IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 46

New Central Library

C

CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA
Calgary's East Village was a neighborhood once
Schiffmann says. The team strategically used color
known for its abandoned buildings, empty lots,
to designate the various program areas of the
and homeless shelters. Over the past 15 years
library in lieu of walls that would make the floors
the area has undergone a renaissance, complete
feel heavy and cut off. They also added details
with a booming residential market and upgraded
that make even the smallest of spaces
public transportation. The neighborhood's next
feel special. For example, the restrooms
step in its journey from blight to bustling is the
feature ceramic hexagonal tiles on the floors and
New Central Library.
walls that mimic the design of the library's facade.
"It is an important public project that had
Schiffmann notes that too often restrooms are
to embrace the diverse urban culture while
"under designed," but her team wanted these
being accessible to everyone," says Anne Rachel
private spaces to have surprising design elements
Schiffmann, senior architect, Snøhetta, New
that would unite them with the rest of the building.
York, New York, USA, which designed the
As visitors ascend the library's three floors,
library in partnership with Calgary-based design
fun gives way to an environment more conducive
firm Dialog.
to work than play. "The higher floors offer space
To that end, the design team developed a
for more focused work and research, including
design program that reflects the needs of every
the computer commons, research rooms, and
visitor.
ultimately the Great Reading Room," Schiffmann
"The first two levels are
says. "All of these spaces are open and
open and inviting, with colorful
lit by natural light, but the higher floors
THE
rugs and low-slung stacks that
offer more private spaces for research
feel more like a bookstore,"
and work," she says. 
FACTOR

46

perspective

iida.org/perspective

Credit

The New Central Library in Calgary, Alberta, Canada,
was designed by Snøhetta in partnership with
Calgary-based design firm Dialog.

Photos by: (left) © MIR & Snøhetta; (far right) © Plompmozes

Creates a
community
space for
both work
and play


http://www.iida.org/perspective

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017

IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017
Contents
From IIDA
Sum of Its Parts
Talk, Talk
Pre/Post
Data Viz
I Design
The Year in Design
Designs That Defined
A Show of Strength
Heat Map
Next-Gen Vision
Air of Anticipation
Scratch Pad
Insider Intel
IIDA News + Updates
Why This Design Works
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - Cover2
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 1
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - Contents
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 3
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 4
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - From IIDA
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - Sum of Its Parts
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 7
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - Talk, Talk
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 9
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - Pre/Post
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 11
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - Data Viz
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 13
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - I Design
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 15
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - The Year in Design
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 17
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 18
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 19
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 20
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 21
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 22
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 23
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - Designs That Defined
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 25
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 26
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 27
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 28
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 29
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - A Show of Strength
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 31
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 32
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 33
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 34
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 35
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - Heat Map
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 37
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - Next-Gen Vision
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 39
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 40
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 41
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 42
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 43
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - Air of Anticipation
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 45
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 46
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 47
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 48
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 49
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - Scratch Pad
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 51
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - Insider Intel
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 53
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - IIDA News + Updates
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - 55
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - Why This Design Works
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - Cover3
IIDA Perspective - Fall/Winter 2017 - Cover4
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