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FEBRUA RY 2019 | 49 Calgary Central Library PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL GRIMM/COURTESY SNØHETTA Calgary Central Library by NATALIE BRUCKNER T he Calgary Public Library's new Central Library is not only an archi- tectural showpiece but a huge investment in the local community and a great engineering marvel. Located on a challenging site that is bisected by the curving LRT line, a great deal of thought, collabora- tion, and experience was required to successfully build this impres- sive 240,000-square-foot structural steel and concrete public building that would provide both a new connection between Downtown Calgary and the developing East Village neighbour- hood, and bring together people from all walks of life. "The encapsulation of the active LRT line made this project incred- ibly unique and challenging," explains Mary Kapusta, director of communica- tions at the Calgary Public Library. "The building, its services, and programs are widely recognized as an example of how libraries are reinventing themselves as integral gathering places for communi- ties. Around 16,000 Calgarians provided input into what they wanted to see in their new library, and this inspired the entire team. Our success is very much the result of excellent collaboration between all parties involved includ- ing the City, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation [CMLC], Dialog, Snøhetta, Stuart Olson and the community." While its location played a role in the design and geometry of the building, Rob Adamson from Dialog (executive architect) says that being on a sloped site also drove its design, resulting in a building that rises up on the north side with a grand archway that sits 17-feet above street level. "The site was what we are calling a 'probartunity' – a problem and an opportunity – with a unique and inter- esting geometry. Another influencer of the design was that we wanted to create a place that would act as a gate- way between downtown and the East Village district, so the Library has a big opening through the centre of the building," adds Adamson. To frame this arch, or opening, required long-span trusses, the largest of which spans 55 metres and weighs 200 tons. This truss, which is archi- tecturally exposed, supports another truss to create the large open space. Fortunately Entuitive, the struc- tural consultants on the project, had extensive experience in building over active train lines having completed the New York City project Manhattan West, in which 13 commuter train tracks were covered to create a foundation for four enormous towers. "While a totally different project, there were a lot of similarities and we applied a lot of the lessons learned to the Library," says Ian Washbrook, senior associate at Entuitive, who worked closely with construction manager Stuart Olson on the project. "The LRT track had a quirky geometry and didn't curve in a continuous grading, which ultimately informed the shape of the building. The contact wire above the train, which provides power, had to be lowered so that the tunnel didn't project into the library space above." With sustainability top of mind, and in order to meet the less than 40 per- cent window-to-wall ratio, the exterior of the building is comprised of unique hexagonal glass panels that come in one of five different shapes. Fabricated by Calgary-based manufacturer Ferguson Corporation, they have a clear, glazed or fritted finish, and have been strategically placed to prevent heat build-up inside. "Inspiration for the design came from a number of sources, including artwork, mathematical patterns, and natural forms such as beehives. The intent was to evoke ideas of the collec- tive and of community, of unique parts working together to create the whole. We settled on a hexagonal form, whose parts resemble an open book, snow- flake-like linework, or interlocking house," says Dennis Rijkhoff, project architect from Snøhetta. "The entire building volume is enclosed in the same pattern, providing a unifying identity for the new library, allowing all sides to function as the 'front' of the building." As you walk towards the building from the south, Adamson says you get the experience of the Prairie grasslands and the foothills as you rise up above the tracks toward the archway, which acts as the main entryway. It is here you find the aforementioned beauti- fully framed archway. "Created entirely of planks of western red cedar from nearby B.C., the double-curved shell is among one of the largest freeform timber shell in the world. Its organic form and texture bring the large build- ing down to a tactile, intimate scale," says Rijkhoff. About 170 wood panels, ranging in weight from 227 to 907 kilo- grams, clad the entranceway. As the archway continues into the lobby and atrium, the wood spirals upwards over 85 feet to a view of the sky through the oculus. "We wanted to make a library that was intuitive, one where you could understand its entire organization as soon as you walked in the door. Wood slats line the perimeter of the open atrium, shaped in plan like a pointed ellipse, serving as an orienta- tion device for people to quickly grasp the circulation and organizational logic of the library," says Craig Dykers, founding partner at Snøhetta. "Inside, the concrete structure is left exposed and unfinished, hinting at the open- ended possibilities within." "You have this amazing staircase that rises up through the atrium and informs how to use the building. Wood and archi- tectural concrete were primarily used inside, and the ceiling space features a series of architectural concrete beams, much like the stoa of ancient greek times. It's a place to get together and share knowledge," says Adamson. Kapusta adds that the building's five levels have been organized on a spec- trum of "fun" to "serious." The library program locates the more lively public activities on the lower floors, gradually transitioning towards quieter, focused study areas on the upper levels as one spirals upwards. At the uppermost level of the library is the TD Great Reading Room, con- ceived as a jewel box tucked within the library it provides a space for focused study and inspiration. At the north- ernmost point of the library you find yourself at the Living Room, canti- levering and overlooking the train line and the meeting point of the two 3:04 PM

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