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44 | OCTOBER 2018 Vancouver Public Library Revitalization PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY DA ARCHITECTS & PLANNERS individual reading nooks. "The central plaza allows for up to 100 people to be seated comfortably for larger events and receptions. On a typical day, the outdoor space is a contemplative stroll garden with centrally located movable tables and chairs for 40 to 50 people. The large canopy provides shelter from the rain and long timber benches allow for people to sit and enjoy the stunning views through the existing Coral Bark Maple trees," says Hahn Oberlander. On the green roof key plantings included ornamental grasses such as Elijah Blue, a grey-blue low growing grass, and Solling, which is a green grass also with a low profile. "These were cho- sen to mimic the colours and textures of both the sky and river in the Lower Mainland," adds Hahn Oberlander. For the electrical and mechanical systems (provided by Nemetz (S/A) & Associates Ltd. and Rocky Point Engineering Ltd.) it was important to not only install a great electrical and mechan- ical system that would achieve optimal user comfort, but also one that would essentially be invisible to the user so that nothing is taken away from the beautiful structure and look of the building. The project utilizes a very unique HVAC system that will play a signifi- cant role in the LEED certification process and overall energy efficiency of the building. "Each level has a raised access floor which acts as a supply air plenum, and each zone has round floor diffusers that can modulate [open and close] based on the room temperature set point," explains Mathieu Bechard, associate, project manager at Rocky Point Engineering. "This type of ventilation system not only allows us to improve the ven- tilation efficiency of the building, but also to hide many of the mechanical services within the floor, keeping the ceilings free of services. This resulted in a very unique look and showcased a lot of the concrete structure of the building," adds Bechard. In keeping with the sustainable vision of the city, VPL also opted for a number of solar panels that are visible from this rooftop garden to help the public understand the goals of VPL. Despite construction occurring during one of Vancouver's worst winters, close communication and an understanding of the building resulted in one very smooth and incredibly impressive project. "It is a project everyone can be proud of," says Metry. "The project scope was extremely invasive in nature since much of the roof needed to be removed, but the team and staff were fantastic. We managed to keep the library open during the entire construction proj- ect. Today the building is seamless and to anyone who didn't know about the renovation, you really wouldn't notice the transition between old and new. It is still the beautiful structure it was before, but with so many additional benefits for the public." A sustainability. placemaking. community. We are pleased to be part of the Design Team for this exciting new project. Vancouver Public Library Revitalization T 604 685 6312 w w w. d a - a r c h i t e c t s . c a design is both art & craft FM36326.indd 1 2018-09-26 9:38

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