Mayor Dave Bronconnier called yesterday's approval of a new library at Macleod Tr. and 7 Ave. a major step towards building a landmark institution to replace the out-dated block which currently houses the city's main public book collection. Ald. Druh Farrell said she has high hopes the new library will serve as a visual landmark for downtown visitors, unlike the old building, which she described as looking like a prison.
Platt, Michael. "Council adds $150 M library plan to books". The Calgary Sun, March 22, 2006, p. 8
As a very significant expression of community values and public use, the new library has a tremendous opportunity to be designed to create a physical environment that celebrates learning, exchange of ideas and community gathering.
Burgener, Peter. "New library chance to celebrate". Calgary Herald, May 18, 2006, p. B6
[Library Director] Gerry Meek is looking for that "wow!" factor in Calgary's new central library, and although it's still years and many steps away it's closer than it's ever been. "We want it to be the kind of space where you walk in, look up, and your jaw drops," Meek says. "The library is the most public of all public places – the people's university – and it should be a landmark."
Dohy, Leanne. "Library Makeover". Calgary Herald, May 18, 2006, p. N1
The new library design will be chosen through an international competition, the latest in a series of library projects around the world drawing serious interest from architects. A landmark building of any type is very important to cities, says Brian R. Sinclair, [dean of environmental design at the University of Calgary], adding while EnCana is getting the bulk of today's attention, the library has the potential to be the more defining structure. There is going to be some very interesting architecture coming out of that corner.
Guttormson, Kim. "Mystery tower casts big shadow". Calgary Herald, August 8, 2006, p. B1
Odile Henault is the professional advisor for the architectural design competition for our city's new Central Library. Aside from bringing new ideas to Calgary [her] work will have long-lasting impact in Alberta…the idea of holding an architectural competition for the design of new buildings in Calgary and Edmonton is not foreign anymore…for these dialogues to change the face of our city it is now up to the local architects, urban planners, city officials, and developers to take the lead. In fact, one of Henault's goals in her work on the Calgary Central Library is trying to create room for optimistic discussions about design and architecture.
Black, Anthea. "Artcity goes incognito". Fastforward Weekly, Sept. 07 – 13, 2006, p. 39
Over the next 10 years, there are several mega projects planned for the city centre that could transform downtown Calgary into something special, if we have the audacity to demand buildings that are memorable rather than mediocre, brilliant rather than bland and innovative rather than imitative. The new Central Library probably has the best chance to become Calgary's signature building, like Moshe Safdie's is in Vancouver or Rem Koolhass' is in Seattle. It could become a new icon for the city, like the opera house in Sydney.
White, Richard. "Can we (yawn) inject some "wow" into our downtown?" Calgary Herald, Sunday, Sept.17, 2006, p. A12
The foundation of [Downtown] vitality lays in the ability to create a livable and safe Downtown through implementing quality public realm and architecture policies… 4.2 Downtown Policies Support the development of a new Central Library that meets the diverse needs of the Downtown and neighbourhoods within the Centre City as well as the city as a whole.
Draft Centre City Plan. October 2006, p. 32
And the respected Montrealer Odile Henault has been hired as the professional adviser for the upcoming international architecture competition for the city's new central library. Indeed, there are reasons to be optimistic about what could become of Calgary.
Rochon, Lisa. "Time to Get Tough on Cowtown". Globe & Mail, November 8, 2006, p. R3
The best public library system in Canada is housed in an ugly squat box, which if it were a consumer product, would not be allowed on the shelf of any store because of its ugliness.
Bronstein, Richard. "Sometimes Bigger is Better". Business in Calgary, November 2006, p. 14
…the future [of East Village] will…evolve into a successful neighbourhood due to its proximity to a well-defined financial centre as well as the attention that it will receive when the new central library project is completed in the neighbourhood.
Chodikoff, Ian. "There's a Lot We Can Learn from Calgary." Globe & Mail, November 20, 2006, p. A19
We have also heard about plans for a new Central Library, and a new cultural centre as part of Encana's The Bow project…. All of these projects should combine to ensure Calgary continues to grow as a "creative city."
White, Richard. "Creative Class brings life to Calgary." Calgary Herald, December 16, 2006, p. J2
Library director Gerry Meek says the new central library will be more than twice as large as the existing downtown branch… The jump in size will allow designers to add unique components, like an interactive kids centre.
Sekus, Tony and Eva Ferguson. "City's seed money starts to sprout". Calgary Herald, January 6, 2007, p. B1
The block housing the downtown library is poised for a major overhaul… "There's an opportunity here we can't miss for developing an entire city block," Ald. Linda Fox-Mellway said, adding it means the library can move forward with an international design competition. "We can get going, now that we have a site."
Guttormson, Kim. "Library block getting revamp". Calgary Herald, March 28, 2007, p. B2