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Albion District Library
Albion District Library
Toronto, Canada
Project Featured on Aug 01, 2017
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Other Projects by Perkins&Will
Albion District Library
Toronto, Canada
Project Featured on Aug 01, 2017
Firm
Type
STATUS
Built
YEAR
2016
SIZE
100,000 sqft - 300,000 sqft
BUDGET
$10M - 50M
COMMUNAL ACT OF DESIGN
Albion Library’s design embodies a
community-driven narrative resulting from a
series of consultations. The community
presented a major shift from original
ideations. Employing this feedback, Perkins
+ Will encouraged the community to drive
the design vision.
Located in Toronto’s Rexdale neighbourhood,
Albion Library is one of the city’s busiest
public libraries, serving as a social epicenter
for the suburb.
Recognizing the facility as a critical to the
community, Perkins+Will understood that
closing down the library during construction
was not an option. Instead, the team chose to
erect a new facility in the adjacent,
underutilized parking lot, allowing branch
operations to continue.
The old site will be transformed into a
landscaped parking lot mirroring a public
plaza and market square.
VIBRANT UNVEILING
Reminiscent of a walled garden, the
dynamic façade gives the illusion of a
front porch trellis – its privacy veil
injecting colour into the street.
Punctuated by courtyard gardens and
interior pavilions, Albion Library’s
footprint is a pure square. The perimeter
is defined by a screen of polychrome
terracotta tiles in bright, unexpected
colours. Contrasting the monotone asphalt
that surrounds the site, the form offers a
respite from the busy arterial context of
Albion Road.
WELCOMING PEOPLE IN
Surrounding the library, expansive windows offer pedestrians views inside, showcasing
programming and drawing users into the space. The entry is highly visible from the street, public
transit, and the community plaza. Ample seating is available in the public forecourt near the main
entrance. A generous planting of new trees flank the site, growing into an rich amenity green
space.
COLOUR BETWEEN THE LINES
Buffering between the
residential neighbourhood
and busy four-lane road,
Albion Library offers a
colourful counter to the
traffic outside.
Bringing an unexpected
vibrancy into the distinctly
concrete streetscape, Albion
Library’s façade playfully
juxtaposes its surroundings.
SEEN FROM ALL ANGLES
Stepping inside, transparency fosters
community. Strategically placed glass walls
separate meeting rooms, while low visual
barriers create defined areas for activity and
diverse programming.
Every space is visibly accessible, yet
connected to the library’s circulation hub.
COURTYARD FOR ALL-AGES
Multigenerational design is harnessed
through the facility’s three courtyard
gardens – dedicated to youth, teens and
adults.
Weaving nature and natural light deep into
the library’s interiors, spaces allow for
quiet contemplation and study. The
courtyards provide secure zones for
exterior programming.
Bright colours and geometric shapes
create a sense of informality and
playfulness in the curated greenspace.
URBAN LIVING ROOM
Mirroring the community’s evolving
needs, Perkins+Will’s design moves
beyond the bookshelf, prioritizing
spaces for collaboration and creation.
The Urban Living Room resembles a
informal extension of the home,
providing an adaptable space for
cultural events, concerts and readings,
from spoken word to hip-hop battles.
The library’s Innovation Studio Lab
contributes to cultural production and
houses a myriad of STEM programming,
empowering youth to enhance their
technical skills in coding, circuit
building and 3D Printing.
NATURAL BALANCE
Notched light is featured throughout – carefully placed windows and lighting fixtures illuminate each area.
The Library footprint is divided into a series of open zones. Careful composition of the spaces creates a rich and varied
plan that accommodates open, cellular, and private spaces, ensuring ease of access. Programmatically, the building
houses a wide range of services that go beyond traditional book lending to include cultural orientation, social
integration, employment skills, and access to technology and knowledge.
MULTI-USE URBAN PLAZA
The new parking lot is designed as a
multifunctional public space capable of
accommodating a wide variety of markets
and cultural events – from festivals and
concerts to farmers markets. It’s equipped
with both water and power for maximum
flexibility.
Albion Library’s design embodies a
community-driven narrative resulting from a
series of consultations. The community
presented a major shift from original
ideations. Employing this feedback, Perkins
+ Will encouraged the community to drive
the design vision.
Located in Toronto’s Rexdale neighbourhood,
Albion Library is one of the city’s busiest
public libraries, serving as a social epicenter
for the suburb.
Recognizing the facility as a critical to the
community, Perkins+Will understood that
closing down the library during construction
was not an option. Instead, the team chose to
erect a new facility in the adjacent,
underutilized parking lot, allowing branch
operations to continue.
The old site will be transformed into a
landscaped parking lot mirroring a public
plaza and market square.
VIBRANT UNVEILING
Reminiscent of a walled garden, the
dynamic façade gives the illusion of a
front porch trellis – its privacy veil
injecting colour into the street.
Punctuated by courtyard gardens and
interior pavilions, Albion Library’s
footprint is a pure square. The perimeter
is defined by a screen of polychrome
terracotta tiles in bright, unexpected
colours. Contrasting the monotone asphalt
that surrounds the site, the form offers a
respite from the busy arterial context of
Albion Road.
WELCOMING PEOPLE IN
Surrounding the library, expansive windows offer pedestrians views inside, showcasing
programming and drawing users into the space. The entry is highly visible from the street, public
transit, and the community plaza. Ample seating is available in the public forecourt near the main
entrance. A generous planting of new trees flank the site, growing into an rich amenity green
space.
COLOUR BETWEEN THE LINES
Buffering between the
residential neighbourhood
and busy four-lane road,
Albion Library offers a
colourful counter to the
traffic outside.
Bringing an unexpected
vibrancy into the distinctly
concrete streetscape, Albion
Library’s façade playfully
juxtaposes its surroundings.
SEEN FROM ALL ANGLES
Stepping inside, transparency fosters
community. Strategically placed glass walls
separate meeting rooms, while low visual
barriers create defined areas for activity and
diverse programming.
Every space is visibly accessible, yet
connected to the library’s circulation hub.
COURTYARD FOR ALL-AGES
Multigenerational design is harnessed
through the facility’s three courtyard
gardens – dedicated to youth, teens and
adults.
Weaving nature and natural light deep into
the library’s interiors, spaces allow for
quiet contemplation and study. The
courtyards provide secure zones for
exterior programming.
Bright colours and geometric shapes
create a sense of informality and
playfulness in the curated greenspace.
URBAN LIVING ROOM
Mirroring the community’s evolving
needs, Perkins+Will’s design moves
beyond the bookshelf, prioritizing
spaces for collaboration and creation.
The Urban Living Room resembles a
informal extension of the home,
providing an adaptable space for
cultural events, concerts and readings,
from spoken word to hip-hop battles.
The library’s Innovation Studio Lab
contributes to cultural production and
houses a myriad of STEM programming,
empowering youth to enhance their
technical skills in coding, circuit
building and 3D Printing.
NATURAL BALANCE
Notched light is featured throughout – carefully placed windows and lighting fixtures illuminate each area.
The Library footprint is divided into a series of open zones. Careful composition of the spaces creates a rich and varied
plan that accommodates open, cellular, and private spaces, ensuring ease of access. Programmatically, the building
houses a wide range of services that go beyond traditional book lending to include cultural orientation, social
integration, employment skills, and access to technology and knowledge.
MULTI-USE URBAN PLAZA
The new parking lot is designed as a
multifunctional public space capable of
accommodating a wide variety of markets
and cultural events – from festivals and
concerts to farmers markets. It’s equipped
with both water and power for maximum
flexibility.
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