Toronto U of T: Robarts Library Renovations & Robarts Common | ?m | ?s | U of T | Diamond Schmitt

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Interesting that, at the same time, the same architectural firm is putting an addition on another brutalist monument built out of triangles and hexagons in Ottawa.

Yup, they are working on the NAC. Maybe the latter had a look at their previous work at Robarts.

AoD

 

[kicked it in the sun]

man, i love this building so much, and glad that the intervention is on the deactivated/disused loading side (silly 1970s, why would a library need a loading dock anyway?). another rendering from the u of t fundraising site:

The cornerstone of the second phase will be the construction of a major new addition called the Robarts Common. The five-storey structure will add 1,222 work and study spaces to Robarts, bringing the total number of spaces to 6,027. The Common will feature study areas to accommodate the more social and group aspects of learning and increasing collaboration and teamwork in higher education.

The south entrance to the Common will feature an atrium with a café, flexible seating and information terminals. The café will open to a new outdoor plaza and park, a wonderful public space with additional seating for student activities and special events.

The Common will attain a silver rating according to the standards of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

http://boundless.utoronto.ca/initiatives/robarts-revitalization/

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

man, i love this building so much, and glad that the intervention is on the deactivated/disused loading side (silly 1970s, why would a library need a loading dock anyway?). another rendering from the u of t fundraising site:

Actually I think if you look at the PDF report posted earlier, you'd notice the loading lock is still there - and I can see why they'd need one, given the presence of food services in the library, for example - or that a significant part of the U of T collection in now stored offsite in Downsview.

AoD

 

[modernizt]

Generally buildings need a way to deal with garbage/recycling and the movement of furniture into and out of the building.

 

[someMidTowner]

130 ST GEORGE ST
Ward 20 - Tor & E.York District
►View All Properties


Robarts Common is a five-storey, 1200 seat reading room pavilion located on the west side of Robarts Library at the University of Toronto. The building spans over the existing Huron Street loading dock for the main library, which will remain in use after the pavilion is complete. The GFA for Robarts Common is 4304m2, and it is linked to the existing 96,244 m2 library by a four-storey bridge. Roughly 50% of the roof is extensive green roof. A new plaza connects the corner of Huron and Harbord to the entrance of the new building (at the south end of the pavilion).
Proposed Use --- # of Storeys --- # of Units ---
Applications:
Type Number Date Submitted Status
Site Plan Approval 15 135351 STE 20 SA Apr 1, 2015 Under Review

http://app.toronto.ca/DevelopmentAp...icationsList.do?action=init&folderRsn=3722407

 

[Student99]

" A new plaza connects the corner of Huron and Harbord to the entrance of the new building (at the south end of the pavilion)."

I hope they keep the cherry blossom trees...

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

The supporting docs - including floor plans and some new renderings are now available on the development app site.

AoD

 

[interchange42]

We have added a pile of renderings including a number of close-ups to the dataBase file, and there's a front page story up here.

42

 

[anonymous0024]

Looks like construction is slated to begin in March:

http://magazine.utoronto.ca/life-on-campus/robarts-expansion-to-begin-this-spring-sharon-aschaiek/

The expansion – which will begin in March and should wrap up within two years – is supported by a lead donation from Russell (MA 1947) and Katherine Morrison (PhD 1979).

 

[G.L.17]

New concrete slabs going up:

 

[jje1000]

Old ones were leaking, right?

A bit of a shame the colours don't match.

 

[Tulse]

Jesus that's horrific. Was there no attempt at all to match the colour and design (e.g., the horizontal indentations) of the original?

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Old ones were leaking, right?
A bit of a shame the colours don't match.

Nope, lack of insulation resulting in interior condensation:

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/20...t-year-students-saved-u-of-ts-rare-books.html

Well, it did turn out to be a U of T solution/cause to a U of T old/new problem.

AoD

 

[torontoboy]

Jesus that's horrific. Was there no attempt at all to match the colour and design (e.g., the horizontal indentations) of the original?

Looks pretty close to the original...

 

[UrbanAffair]

Pretty sure the concrete will weather and match in no time.