The Town of Beaverlodge engaged Manasc Isaac Architects to create a new stand-alone library to better meets this growing community’s long-term needs.
We are inspired by the community's physical context; clouds tumble over the nearby Rockies and pass across the sky, becoming narrow wisps as the air moves from turbulence to calm. This observation finds a parallel expression in the library; the circulation desk is the vortex of activity and the distant corners of the building provide contrasting spaces of repose.
The site of the new library is in close proximity to the former library. Given that the new library's neighbours include an RCMP detachment, a school, two churches and various other institutions, we approached the design of the library also as an urban design exercise. By doing so, we added to an already vibrant civic precinct in Beaverlodge.
Given the long & narrow site, the building is correspondingly linear. This is developed to our advantage, creating an "interior street" that organizes all the interior program elements.
The linear configuration is also used to sustainable advantage by opening the building up to natural light and reducing solar heat gain, thereby reducing operational costs.
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