[Surrealplaces]

Update pics from @CBCScott on twitter

 

[Patrick.1980]

This building is going to be gorgeous when it's done.

The coolest library in the country for sure.

 

[RyLucky]

This building is going to be gorgeous when it's done.

The coolest library in the country for sure.

Agreed. How would you rank these:

• Halifax's new Central Library
• Toronto Reference Library
• Vancouver Public Library
• Library of Parliament (public can only tour, but certainly an incredible library)
• various university and private libraries (Stauffer at Queen's, TFDD at Calgary, etc)
• other

 

[Silence&Motion]

The coolest library in the country for sure.

I'm looking forward to it! But there is some stiff competition when it comes to Canadian libraries. In Toronto alone I can think of many beautiful/cool libraries:

Vaughan Civic Centre Library:

Scarborough Civic Centre Library:

Lillian H. Smith Library:

Runnymede Library:

Knox College Library:

Robarts Library:

 

[Patrick.1980]

I really like the parliament library, but to me sort of an apples to oranges type comparison. Vancouver's is nice. I don't like Halifax's new library.

Agreed. How would you rank these:

• Halifax's new Central Library
• Toronto Reference Library
• Vancouver Public Library
• Library of Parliament (public can only tour, but certainly an incredible library)
• various university and private libraries (Stauffer at Queen's, TFDD at Calgary, etc)
• other

 

[Surrealplaces]

Agreed. How would you rank these:

• Halifax's new Central Library
• Toronto Reference Library
• Vancouver Public Library
• Library of Parliament (public can only tour, but certainly an incredible library)
• various university and private libraries (Stauffer at Queen's, TFDD at Calgary, etc)
• other

Vancouver's library is right up there. Toronto's reference library....great on the inside. Library of Parliament, is a one of a kind.

 

[Surrealplaces]

 

[Surrealplaces]

 

[Oddball]

The new panneling is going up! Really, the only word for it is...

 

[Always_Biking]

^Exactly Oddball! Drool worthy for sure.

 

[RyLucky]

Toronto does have some cool libraries. Props to them for building such a strong network.

You know what REALLY sets Calgary's NCL apart though? It is literally intertwined with the city. I mean, a C-train runs through it from one direction, and the sidewalk continues through it the other direction. Few modern designs give nearly as much tribute to context, regardless of building type. Having a transparent, playful, permeable, inspired-by-nature-but-built-with-digital-technology, and central design is really what a public library is all about.

Andrew Carnegie would be proud.

 

[Silence&Motion]

Here's hoping they one day renovate City Hall to create a more open pathway that connects 8th ave on either side. 8th Ave has the potential to be a spectacular street connecting the Armoury and Millennium Park in the west to Fort Calgary in the east and going through City Hall and the library (not to mention Art Commons, the Core, etc.).

 

[Oddball]

I believe that's the long term plan. At least having an opening through city hall towards the library is. I like the scope of your thinking though. I hadn't considered that Mewata and the New Library become bookends to one long feature road. There would be quite a lot to see on and just off of 8th Ave.

To me the biggest obstacle to your plan isn't city hall though, it's the generally declining quality of the streetscape from 5th street westwards to 11th street. Especially in the blocks areound 9th and 10th streets and 8th ave. Longer term there's room for hope though. 8th & 8th has seen a lot of improvment in the last 10 years and the WV project begins around 11th & 9th. Hopefully there will be interest in bridging the gap.

 

[Surrealplaces]

Toronto does have some cool libraries. Props to them for building such a strong network.

You know what REALLY sets Calgary's NCL apart though? It is literally intertwined with the city. I mean, a C-train runs through it from one direction, and the sidewalk continues through it the other direction. Few modern designs give nearly as much tribute to context, regardless of building type. Having a transparent, playful, permeable, inspired-by-nature-but-built-with-digital-technology, and central design is really what a public library is all about.

Andrew Carnegie would be proud.

Snohetta did a great job working with a parcel of land that was difficult to work with. I never thought about the relevance of the C-Train going through one area and a pedestrian way through another, but that's really cool. Calgarians will be proud of this building when it's done.

 

[Surrealplaces]

Here's hoping they one day renovate City Hall to create a more open pathway that connects 8th ave on either side. 8th Ave has the potential to be a spectacular street connecting the Armoury and Millennium Park in the west to Fort Calgary in the east and going through City Hall and the library (not to mention Art Commons, the Core, etc.).

Maybe a hail storm will wipe out the new city hall building and we can get a re-build .

If they could get 8th ave to run straight through to EV, and then connect nicely to the EV RIFF, that would be great. I have heard that they are looking at opening up a passage through city hall for 8th ave, but not sure where they are at.