khris
Senior Member
York University library set to undergo $2-million renovation
PATRICIA WILLIAMS
staff writer
Toronto’s Levitt Goodman Architects is completing schematic design on a $2-million renovation of the 40-year-old main library at York University’s Keele Street campus.
Construction is expected to get under way next spring.
The “learning commons†will provide users with a mix of group study areas that will transform the 40-year-old Scott Library into a progressive learning environment.
The renovation will be the first initiative on the campus specifically designed to reflect York’s “pedagogical shift from a teacher-centered approach to active and collaborative learning,†the architectural firm said.
The firm’s competition-winning design for the 26,390-square-foot renovation offers a mix of open and semi-private multipurpose areas designed to promote interaction, collaboration and group study.
Tenders will be called in March. The project is scheduled for completion by the start of the fall semester. The library will remain open during construction
“The concept of a library is changing into a very active public place,†said Brock James, partner in charge of the project at Levitt Goodman. “We look forward to helping the university make the library one of the campus’ key learning environments.â€
Initially, a dozen architectural firms were invited to participate in a three-stage selection process. Four shortlisted firms were interviewed. Three subsequently were selected to participate in a two-week design competition.
Levitt Goodman’s recent library projects include the Musagetes Library at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture, the Bridgenorth Library, the five-year multi-million renovation of the Queen’s Square central branch of the Cambridge Libraries system and the $24.9 million renovation of the Kitchener Public Library.
The Kitchener project, being undertaken in association with the Walter Fedy Partnership and Phillip H Carter Architect, will be completed in 2013.
PATRICIA WILLIAMS
staff writer
Toronto’s Levitt Goodman Architects is completing schematic design on a $2-million renovation of the 40-year-old main library at York University’s Keele Street campus.
Construction is expected to get under way next spring.
The “learning commons†will provide users with a mix of group study areas that will transform the 40-year-old Scott Library into a progressive learning environment.
The renovation will be the first initiative on the campus specifically designed to reflect York’s “pedagogical shift from a teacher-centered approach to active and collaborative learning,†the architectural firm said.
The firm’s competition-winning design for the 26,390-square-foot renovation offers a mix of open and semi-private multipurpose areas designed to promote interaction, collaboration and group study.
Tenders will be called in March. The project is scheduled for completion by the start of the fall semester. The library will remain open during construction
“The concept of a library is changing into a very active public place,†said Brock James, partner in charge of the project at Levitt Goodman. “We look forward to helping the university make the library one of the campus’ key learning environments.â€
Initially, a dozen architectural firms were invited to participate in a three-stage selection process. Four shortlisted firms were interviewed. Three subsequently were selected to participate in a two-week design competition.
Levitt Goodman’s recent library projects include the Musagetes Library at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture, the Bridgenorth Library, the five-year multi-million renovation of the Queen’s Square central branch of the Cambridge Libraries system and the $24.9 million renovation of the Kitchener Public Library.
The Kitchener project, being undertaken in association with the Walter Fedy Partnership and Phillip H Carter Architect, will be completed in 2013.
