State Library Victoria, Australia’s oldest and largest public library is undergoing a major redevelopment as part of Vision 2020, an ambitious AU$88.1 million transformation that will increase public space by 40 percent. The five-year redevelopment plan is aimed at expanding the library’s community outreach and enhancing the visitor experience among other goals. The library comprises 23 individual buildings and occupies an entire city block in Melbourne’s city centre.
Size: 13,532 m²
Cost: AUD $88.1 million redevelopment plan
Competition: 2016, winner of tender, international competition
Status: Construction starts in 2017 and is expected to be completed in 2020
Client: Major Projects Victoria (MPV); State Library Victoria (SLV)
Architects: Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects; Architectus; Andronas Conservation Architects
Engineers: Irwin Consult; Steensen Varming; Arup
Other Consultants: ID Lab; McKenzie Group; Salus
Photography: Trevor Mein