Politicians from the federal and municipal governments were on hand in Ottawa on January 23 for the reveal of the design for the Ottawa Public Library – Library and Archives Canada Joint Facility.

Led by Toronto’s Diamond Schmitt Architects in conjunction with Ottawa’s KWC Architects, the building’s design is the direct result of an involved public co-design process that asked Ottawa residents, Indigenous communities, and Canadians from across the country to provide inspiration at every stage. More than 4,000 people provided input.

The new building will be located at 555 Albert Street in Ottawa’s LeBreton Flats neighbourhood. It will be connected to the city’s Pimisi LRT Station, and serve as the new home not only of the central branch of the municipal library but also to the federal library archives. The project has a total value of $193 million, and will span 216,000 square feet over five floors.

The design of the facility draws inspiration from Ottawa’s long history. Its shape, for example, is reminiscent of the nearby Ottawa River, while its stone and wood exterior cladding reflect the adjacent escarpment and surrounding greenspace. Large windows on the upper floors of the building offer striking views of the Ottawa River and Gatineau Hills.

“After completing an extensive public consultation process, we celebrated a major milestone by revealing the architects’ stunning design for our new Ottawa Public Library – Library and Archives Canada joint facility,” said Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson. “This signifies a very exciting time in our city and brings us one step closer to getting shovels in the ground. I want to thank everyone involved in this process for their input, their work and their creativity in helping us create this world-class destination for residents and visitors.”

Inside, the building will host a central town hall, children’s discovery centre, genealogy centre, reading rooms, creative centre, meeting rooms, and cafés. Public input informed the shape of the building, its entrances, the interaction and location of its spaces, the indoor look and ambience, the inclusive and sustainable features, the landscaping and public art, and the exterior materials. Major themes coming out of the public consultations included creating an accessible, iconic destination, a place to spend time, with a connection to nature, a multitude of offerings and a mix of quiet and vibrant spaces.

“The reveal of the design of OPL-LAC Joint Facility illustrates the power of connections between institutions and the contributions of more than 4,000 people who came together to inspire all aspects of the design, inside and out,” said Councillor Tim Tierney, who chairs the Ottawa Public Library Board.

Next steps

Public and Indigenous engagement for the facility will continue as the design is finalized, and the next stages of the project move forward.

Once the proposed design has been approved jointly by the National Capital Commission's Advisory Committee on Planning, Design and Realty, the City of Ottawa’s Urban Design Review Panel, and the project's executive steering committee, the architects and design team will begin work on the construction documents. Ground breaking is scheduled in 2021. 

The facility's name will also be selected before construction begins. It will meet criteria set by the City of Ottawa and the Government of Canada for such buildings.

The building is expected to open to the public in late 2024, and the designers, who also worked together on the design of the Senate of Canada Building in Ottawa, have targeted at least LEED Gold certification.