Instinct Furniture Instinct Furniture Designing for Libraries and Education
✕
  • Home
  • Products
    • All products
    • By type
      • Ingenious Help Pods
      • Dynamic Service Desks
      • Intelligent Counters
      • Storage / Support Modules
      • Cash / Eftpos Modules
      • Returns Processing / Book Returns
      • Accessories
    • By name
      • YAKETY YAK
      • MAXX
      • GLO
      • STEALTH
      • BEAN
      • BOOKFLO
  • Explore
    • Our furniture in action
    • Why height adjustable?
    • Ergonomics
    • Future proofing libraries
    • Active Learning Environments
    • Colours and finishes
    • Resources
  • Projects
  • Blog
  • About
    • Why Instinct?
    • What our clients say
    • Working with us
    • What is a Quote Cart?
    • Sustainability
    • ISO Certifications
  • Community
    • Sponsorship
  • Contact

Celebrating Springdale Public Library

June 22, 2020Blog

A hill-like green roof with a skylight helps to blend this public library by Toronto architecture firm RDHA into its grassy surrounds. Springdale Public Library and the surrounding Komagata Maru Park are located in Brampton, Canada, a suburb outside of Toronto.

The library comprises three volumes around a central patio, featuring aluminium and glazed walls with a ceramic frit pattern reminiscent of book pages. The green mound emerges to form a domed ceiling over the library inside. RDH Architects Inc (RDHA) oriented the triangular building to suit the site’s inclined topography and maximise its views of the ravine at its rear. The roof feature also picks up on the grassy patches interspersed with pools and benches that form part of the landscaping around the library.

A series of reflective steel columns attach to an overhanging roof to cover a small patio and picnic area that overlooks the reflecting pools situated on the west face of the building. Playground equipment, a shading pavilion and an interactive sculpture that spells the word “imagine” are situated on the park property behind the library.

Measuring 20,000-square-foot (1,858-square-metres), the building also houses a children’s library, several group meeting rooms and lounges and a Makerspace lab. RDHA designed it to meet a high LEED certification, which rates buildings according to its green credentials. To achieve this, the Canadian firm implemented a number of more sustainable strategies, including the green roof that bolsters insulation and solar resistant windows.

“Expressing inclusivity, innovation, dedication to learning, collaboration, curiosity, courage and accountability the new building reflects the vision of the institution,” RDHA said. “Seamlessly integrating universal design principles, and targeting a LEED Gold rating, the building demonstrates the highest levels of achievement in both dignity and sustainable design.”

Other details include the pattern of the floor-to-ceiling windows – attached to the aluminium curtain wall – that helps to reduce solar heat gain and glare. Inside, the studio covered the domed ceiling over the reading room with drywall to help tone down the noise. The circular skylight floods natural light into the white interiors, while globular pendant lights hang from its centre to provide additional illumination. Another, smaller light is installed on the ceiling in the quiet reading area. An inverted skylight also brightens the children’s reading area, which is carpeted with a mossy green surface that nods to the feature roof.

The decor includes colourful plastic stools that match armchairs and tables in the reading rooms and lounges located in other parts of the library. Other features of the design are digital screens in the lobby that display nature scenes. A panel of glass walls that runs alongside the rows of white bookshelves to conceal the classrooms, and technology and audio recording labs, that patrons are free to use.

RDHA, which stands for Rounthwaite Dick and Hadley Architects, was founded in 1919. It has completed a number of libraries in Canada including another building that features a sloping green roof and the renovation of a post office into “Canada’s first bookless library”.

Instinct Furniture Blog, mostly about cool libraries, furniture and design – keeping you abreast of our world. (Source: Designboom. Photography by Nic Lehoux).

Recent Posts

  • Springdale library in Ontario
  • Giant painted bookcase
  • Wormhole Library overlooking the South China Sea
  • New Ibsen library, Norway
  • Florida university building conveys movement, flight and aerodynamics
SEE ALL
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclaimer
Facebook Vimeo
© 2015 All rights reserved. Instinct Furniture
Instinct Furniture products and trademarks are protected under Australian and New Zealand intellectual property laws.