New Central Library to go in East Village?

[Muta]

I think the +15 looks pretty cool.

[Table 5]

It doesn't really matter how awesome or bad the Plus 15 is, considering at the end of the day it takes away from pedestrian traffic on the street itself which won't really help with energizing the area. I'm not crazy about the location of this library....even in this rendering it looks like it will be in the shadows of the Municipal building.

[Danijam]

Does anyone know who the local firm was who did the initial feasibility study and massing drawings of the library that came out in the Herald today?

Also, I'm interested to know why everyone is adamant that the Prime Consultant won't be a big name from abroad?

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Table 5

It doesn't really matter how awesome or bad the Plus 15 is, considering at the end of the day it takes away from pedestrian traffic on the street itself which won't really help with energizing the area. I'm not crazy about the location of this library....even in this rendering it looks like it will be in the shadows of the Municipal building.

If it was on the west edge of City Hall no one would worry about it. It's because it's going into a quiet, neglected, grimy area of downtown. The aim is that in a few years there will be people and many other buildings on that side of City Hall too, and it will be the same difference as throwing it on the west side.

I think the +15 sucks, unless they change it to some huge, wide pedestrian bridge that makes it more like the road is going below grade than pedestrian traffic is going above grade.

I think once this, the Cantos building and some of the other residential projects go up in the area won't make it feel like its cut off and "in the shadow" of City Hall.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Danijam

Also, I'm interested to know why everyone is adamant that the Prime Consultant won't be a big name from abroad?

Because of the Peace Bridge fiasco.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

If it was on the west edge of City Hall no one would worry about it. It's because it's going into a quiet, neglected, grimy area of downtown. The aim is that in a few years there will be people and many other buildings on that side of City Hall too, and it will be the same difference as throwing it on the west side.

While that area will definitely look different in a few years, the ass-end of the Municipal building is quite large and intimidating no matter how revitalized the area will be.

Even if it's in the East Village, I think what this type of building needs is a plaza or open space where it can have a little presence and become a gathering space... this particular location feels a little underwhelming at the moment. Personally, I think the location of the current library is still the best of what I've seen.

[Sliver]

I haven't read anything about this yet, but has the City commented at all on how a library built this decade will differ from the libraries we all grew up with? With the popularity and economy of e-readers, tablets, computers, the Internet, etc. it seems like a giant building filled with books is a little unnecessary. I get that we need meeting spaces, computers, etc. and obviously those will be an important aspect of the new building, but a full-on library seems a bit 20th Century to me.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I haven't read anything about this yet, but has the City commented at all on how a library built this decade will differ from the libraries we all grew up with? With the popularity and economy of e-readers, tablets, computers, the Internet, etc. it seems like a giant building filled with books is a little unnecessary. I get that we need meeting spaces, computers, etc. and obviously those will be an important aspect of the new building, but a full-on library seems a bit 20th Century to me.

Are you honestly wondering why a servie that provides free access to physical books is necessary when an expensive electronic alternative is available?

Now in a non sarcastic way, there are several reasons why it's still necessary. Not all books are available in e-reader formats, some people like physical books, the building itself is an important workspace for some, and there are many more.

That being said, the Calgary Public Library actually does have e-books that you can check out, so they already are modernizing.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Danijam

Does anyone know who the local firm was who did the initial feasibility study and massing drawings of the library that came out in the Herald today?

Also, I'm interested to know why everyone is adamant that the Prime Consultant won't be a big name from abroad?

Me thinks a big name - not necessarily aborad - will be a helping, not a hindering, factor. But local representation will be very important here.

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

Are you honestly wondering why a servie that provides free access to physical books is necessary when an expensive electronic alternative is available?

I would think renting, leasing, subsidizing, etc. ebook readers would be something to explore. Purchasing tens (hundreds?) of thousands of books is going to be incredibly expensive. Plus books are inherently fragile and I'm sure they need to be replaced on a somewhat regular basis (for the popular books). I honestly can't believe in 2011 you'd be questioning the viability of electronic books replacing paper books. It's an inevitability.

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

Now in a non sarcastic way, there are several reasons why it's still necessary. Not all books are available in e-reader formats, some people like physical books, the building itself is an important workspace for some, and there are many more.

That being said, the Calgary Public Library actually does have e-books that you can check out, so they already are modernizing.

I agree the building is important - I already said they need computers, meeting spaces, etc. I just think paper books are going the way of the dodo bird so I'd be more impressed if they were focusing on the future with this library more than the past with floors and floors of paper books. For all I know they are.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I would think renting, leasing, subsidizing, etc. ebook readers would be something to explore. Purchasing tens (hundreds?) of thousands of books is going to be incredibly expensive. Plus books are inherently fragile and I'm sure they need to be replaced on a somewhat regular basis (for the popular books). I honestly can't believe in 2011 you'd be questioning the viability of electronic books replacing paper books. It's an inevitability.



I agree the building is important - I already said they need computers, meeting spaces, etc. I just think paper books are going the way of the dodo bird so I'd be more impressed if they were focusing on the future with this library more than the past with floors and floors of paper books. For all I know they are.

Okay, they aren't just going to burn all of the books in the old library, I'm pretty sure they plan on moving those books to the new one, so I'm sure that'll save them a few bucks.

Second, if you're worried about replacement costs of books I don't think renting ebook readers is likely to be a great substitute.

Yeah, ebook readers are becoming much more prevalent, and I'm sure the library will start to get licenses for more ebooks as time goes on, but in the meantime, for all of those books that aren't available electronically (including I'd imagine a huge ammount of reference and research books), a nice new building will be great.

That being said, I'm sure they'll do some pretty cool things with this new library to bring it into the 21st century, it's not likely to be a big building with just a bunch of shelves.

All this new technology that's available will be a means to enhance traditional libraries, not replace them.

[You Need a Thneed]

Nothings is going to completely replace printed books for quite a long time yet.

Sure, a library is now much more than just shelves of printed books, but printed books will be around throughout my lifetime.

[Slava]

The other factor is that the library provides a lot of programing and services aside from the materials. Its really a significant part of the community.

[Sliver]

I'm not saying they shouldn't build a library lol, just saying a building filled with books is an outdated concept in some ways. I have faith in the planners that this will be beyond the libraries of yesteryear so I am looking forward to it.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I'm not saying they shouldn't build a library lol, just saying a building filled with books is an outdated concept in some ways. I have faith in the planners that this will be beyond the libraries of yesteryear so I am looking forward to it.

All you have to do is look at the new library on the U of C campus to get an idea as to what a library designed for the future is supposed to look like.

[Danijam]

Originally Posted by Muta

Me thinks a big name - not necessarily aborad - will be a helping, not a hindering, factor. But local representation will be very important here.

I agree. Once they're finished, The Bow and Calatrava Bridge will end up being Calgary's defining architecture. With the budget it's been assigned I hope the library falls into that category as well. I think a big-name firm well-practiced in delivering landmark architecture is the only way to go on a project like this.

[Mass_nerder]

Originally Posted by Danijam

I agree. Once they're finished, The Bow and Calatrava Bridge will end up being Calgary's defining architecture. With the budget it's been assigned I hope the library falls into that category as well. I think a big-name firm well-practiced in delivering landmark architecture is the only way to go on a project like this.

Big-name within the city, or the world? There aren't many firms within Calgary that can claim to operate on a global scale

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Table 5

While that area will definitely look different in a few years, the ass-end of the Municipal building is quite large and intimidating no matter how revitalized the area will be.

Even if it's in the East Village, I think what this type of building needs is a plaza or open space where it can have a little presence and become a gathering space... this particular location feels a little underwhelming at the moment. Personally, I think the location of the current library is still the best of what I've seen.

The reason the current site was not picked was because they couldn't get the police arrest processing centre out of there in any reasonable amount of time. Couldn't hold up a desperately needed $250 million project on that account. Also, the challenge of what to do while the new library is under construction. But, once the libary moves out, that also opens up all sort of opportunities for that site (not for library, but something else including cultural uses).

I think the East Village site will bring an exciting development. It has the opportunity to have a number of front doors. There is a small plaza space that can be transformed at the corner of 9th ave and 3rd street that will be a front door. It can help humanize 3rd street. Also, a really exciting opportunity is its interface on the east side as the visual terminus of 8th Avenue. That whole 8th ave cul-de-sac with Cantos there and a rejuvenated St Louis Hotel could become a really exciting public space.

[Danijam]

Originally Posted by Mass_nerder

Big-name within the city, or the world? There aren't many firms within Calgary that can claim to operate on a global scale

A firm from abroad, for sure, with a local executive architect, engineering and construction team. Just like, well, The Bow for example.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Danijam

A firm from abroad, for sure, with a local executive architect, engineering and construction team. Just like, well, The Bow for example.

My guess is that a local firm will be selected, but that firm will have the backings of a major, well-known library architect. The local firm will likely be the prime consultant.

That's not a bad thing in any way. I'm a huge fan of bringing in the best in the world, not necessarily the best in the city. However, world-class, experienced library design talent DOES reside in Calgary already, much to what some might not even know. I know this for fact.