Artwork at Tommy Douglas
Hi,
Some of you may have noticed the colourful art object hanging from the ceiling near the study tables on the Kingsway side of the building.
30 students from the Ceramics and Sculpture Class of teacher Donna Clark at Alpha Secondary created this green art installation after a fieldtrip to view the green features of the new Tommy Douglas Library.
Using “Plarn” made from recycled shopping bags, students knit and did macrame to create a bright, lively piece of art to enhance our interior and remind people that “upcycling” can convert waste into new materials, and sometimes even an object of beauty.
Roberta Summersgill
Branch Manager
A Common Question Revisited
Hi,
Thanks for your comment about the interior space.This continues to be one of the most popular questions at Tommy Douglas Library and I thought I’d refer back to the architect’s response to the question :
Derek Newby at CEI Architects (one of the partners along with Diamond & Schmitt who designed the building) was asked to explain this design choice. His response follows:
“The height of the ceiling in the main room of the library was driven by a number of considerations. Significantly, the ceiling height has to do with making the interior feel welcoming and comfortable. The main library space is a large room, and was designed to serve a variety of roles while being very open and interconnected. The high ceiling helps to make the size of the room feel united. Also, given the importance of the site as it faces Kingsway, the scale of the building from the street was considered. As an important public institution in the City, the shape and height of the building was composed to make it be commensurate with its significance.
Beyond this, the high ceiling also contributes to the daylighting of the space by allowing high-level light from the clerestory windows to penetrate across the room. The added height also improves the ability to naturally ventilate the space – automated windows at the high level can open to allow hot air to escape, exploiting natural convective forces.”
Thanks Derek!
More on the inside…
The figures are in. Area residents borrowed 33% more items from the new Tommy Douglas Library in its first full month of operation than they did from the old branch in December 2008.
Some of what is attracting them is the spacious light filled interior, the many types of seating, the quiet study areas with plugins for laptops, the aesthetics – plants, artwork, coloured glass windows; friendly and helpful staff and the collections – easier to find and to browse.
One particular piece of artwork worthy of attention is Bettina Matzkuhn’s fabric art piece in memory of a former Kingsway Branch staff person. The piece includes details that only those who knew her can fully appreciate but it can be enjoyed by anyone. It includes a depiction of the old Kingsway branch with a path leading up to the site of the new building showing the Walker house that used to occupy that piece of land. Fabrics were deliberately chosen for their resonance with the cultures the diverse neighbourhood includes. It was commissioned by former Kingsway Branch Manager Caroline Christie. A picture is included here but it is best to see the real thing yourself. It’s located near the children’s program room.
By the end of this month, I will be turning over the position of “BlogMaster” for this blog to Roberta Summersgill, Branch Manager of the Tommy Douglas Library, who can continue to keep you up to date on what’s happening at our newest branch.
Deb Thomas, Deputy Chief Librarian
The busy new library
The Grand Opening on November 21st drew over 700 area residents and local dignitaries. Since then, the library has been hopping! In the first two open weeks, circulation of books and other materials was 24% higher than the same time last year. People are happily using the new self-checkout machine to borrow materials and all of the many types of chairs usually have someone in them. Students are finding the right spaces to study, work on school projects or homework, and do research. Our computers, collections, and program rooms are also being well-used.
As those who have visited in the past few weeks are well aware, we had some issues with our heating and cooling systems – especially during that first cold snap of the season. Fortunately, this issue has been resolved enough for the library to once again be at a comfortable temperature. We are continuing to work at a long term resolution.
Deb Thomas, Deputy Chief Librarian
Library Board Chair Iqbal Dhanani, Mayor Derek Corrigan and Councilor Dan Johnston unveil the Tommy Douglas plaque
Sitting pretty
Lounge chairs
We have a variety of seating in the new branch, from lounge chairs to “laptop” chairs to study tables. Some pictures below and come in and enjoy!
Deb Thomas, Deputy Chief Librarian
Laptop chairs
Study Tables
Pictures of the Inside
For those who haven’t yet visited the new Tommy Douglas Library, here are a few pictures of what it looks like inside. Comments are that it is light and airy, bright and welcoming.
Deb Thomas, Deputy Chief
Our green wall
Computer commons and adult books
A common question…
Staff report that the most frequently asked question about the new building is “why is it so tall when it is only one story?” Since this is question we’ve been fielding since the first drawings of the new building were made public, we asked Derek Newby at CEI Architects (one of the partners along with Diamond & Schmitt who designed the building) to explain this design choice. His response follows:
“The height of the ceiling in the main room of the library was driven by a number of considerations. Significantly, the ceiling height has to do with making the interior feel welcoming and comfortable. The main library space is a large room, and was designed to serve a variety of roles while being very open and interconnected. The high ceiling helps to make the size of the room feel united. Also, given the importance of the site as it faces Kingsway, the scale of the building from the street was considered. As an important public institution in the City, the shape and height of the building was composed to make it be commensurate with its significance.
Beyond this, the high ceiling also contributes to the daylighting of the space by allowing high-level light from the clerestory windows to penetrate across the room. The added height also improves the ability to naturally ventilate the space – automated windows at the high level can open to allow hot air to escape, exploiting natural convective forces.”
Thanks Derek!
Deb Thomas, Deputy Chief Librarian
WE’RE OPEN!
The new Tommy Douglas Library had its soft opening today and staff report a high level of activity. Borrowers are queuing up at the new self-checkout machine and snapping up our new “playaways” – MP3 audiobooks that allow you to just plug in your earbuds and play a book. Excited children are exploring the new kids computers (8 of them), study areas and realia benches. Adults are enjoying the light and colour, the comfortable seating, the plentiful computers and the ability to borrow books, DVDs, etc from their local branch once again.
Come on in and experience it for yourself! (and be kind to our harried staff…it’s really busy!)
The Kingsway Staff
Be patient with us!
We’ve had lots of folks trying to get into the new library because it looks so finished from the Kingsway side of the building. It’s not so tidy in other areas as we are still unpacking boxes and organizing spaces. Please be patient with us while we make sure the library is truly ready to welcome you. Watch for a sign in the front window that says “We are open.”
For those monitoring the progress of the new branch through this blog who are curious about the inside, we encourage you to come and visit us. If you aren’t nearby enough to do that, check the website later in the month. Once the library is open, we will post pictures of spaces and furnishings.
We’re tired but excited!
Deb Thomas
Deputy Chief Librarian
More about “green” features …
The new building is closer to being ready to open by the day. While we wait, I’ll keep you entertained with more information about the library’s sustainable features.
Below is a picture of the “green roof” portion of the new branch, planted with sedums because they are drought tolerant and require minimal maintenance. This roof helps moderate the temperature within the building, reduces stormwater discharge and provides an attractive view for the apartment dwellers next door.
Sedums on our green roof
Another consideration in the building of “sustainable” buildings is lighting, interior and exterior. After reading an interesting article in Library Journal about light pollution from public buildings and how it can affect neighbouring residences and wildlife, I contacted Derek Newby from CEI Architects again for his explanation of how lighting issues such as this had been factored into the design of the new Tommy Douglas Library. Here is his answer:
Lighting public buildings is a difficult task – the designers seek to ensure safety around the building and a welcoming appearance, but are careful not to over-light or direct light where is not needed, to save energy. Beyond that, the designers are considerate of the need to preserve the darkness of the night sky whenever possible. Light that shines beyond a building’s site or into the night sky is wasted energy, and can be annoying to neighbors and detrimental to nocturnal species. The lighting design at the Tommy Douglas Library has been developed to be considerate to its neighbors, and inviting to patrons. The lighting helps make the library safe at night by providing good visibility and clear paths to follow around the building. Although there is a lot of glass in the building, lights have been positioned and selected so that no direct-beam illumination leaves the site. The canopies and sun shades that you see around the building help to preserve the night sky and bounce light down to the ground where it is required. The Library will appear warm and bright from the street, but will not waste energy by sending light where it is not needed. We hope patrons will find the library welcoming and delightful, particularly after dark. The transparency of the building, combined with the fields of coloured glass, will make for a lively and pleasant addition to Kingsway, and the neighborhood.
Derek N. Newby, Dip. Plan., BA, M.Arch., OAA, MRAIC, LEED A.P. CEI Architecture Interiors Planning
