Kpmb Architects

Fort York Branch Library

Fort York Branch Library
© Tom Arban

Fort York Branch Library

KPMB Architects

ARCHITECTS
Kpmb Architects

BUILDER
Bondfield Construction

ENGINEERS AND SPECIALTY CONSULTANTS
Era Architects, Mmm Group Limited, Janet Rosenberg + Associates, Larden Muniak, Turner & Townsend, Hidi Rae, Read Jones Christoffersen, Aercoustics Engineering Ltd, Soberman Engineering

YEAR
2014

LOCATON
Toronto, Canada

CATEGORY
Library

Text description provided by architect.

The Toronto Public Library system is the largest in North America and one of the most used per capita in the world. The new Fort York Branch has become an important community centre in a highly diverse, rapidly evolving neighbourhood in downtown Toronto.

Fort York Branch Library
© Tom Arban
Fort York Branch Library
© Tom Arban

UNIQUE HERITAGE CONTEXT

The building sits on what was once the original forested shoreline of Lake Ontario at the mouth of Garrison Creek.

The library building is designed to allow pedestrian access from Fort York Boulevard to the south, to the future park to the north. This pedestrian pathway system will connect under the Bathurst Street Bridge to the historic fort and its grounds.

Fort York Branch Library
© James Brittain
Fort York Branch Library
© Maris Mezulis

The angular trapezoidal geometry of the pavilion building references the ramparts of the fort, and the extensive use of wood in the interior of the building recalls the old wooden cribbing found buried on site during the archaeological survey.

Fort York now finds itself buried in today’s urban fabric. The second floor of the library functions as an extraordinary viewing platform to the heritage site, the city and the lake.

Fort York Branch Library
© Maris Mezulis

THE URBAN LIVING ROOM

In order to fulfill the client’s mandate and vision to be the social heart of the neighbourhood - to provide a resource for digital studios and study spaces, and to be the first stop for new immigrants – the functional layout of the building had to provide a high level of flexibility for future program development. Durability and ease of maintenance were also important criteria as the building is constantly in heavy use.

Fort York Branch Library
© Tom Arban

The building has accommodated the unanticipated high number of users well because of the robustness and generosity of its public spaces.

Fort York Branch Library
© James Brittain

And the modest construction budget imposed a discipline of strategic use of warm materials - such as the wood – and bright primary colours to animate the interior.

INTEGRATED ART

Given the site’s unique history, the clients suggested using Margaret Atwood’s poetry collection, The Journals of Susanna Moodie as a theme for integrated art.

Fort York Branch Library
© James Brittain

Poetry excerpts are featured on the exterior of the building, while The Planters drawing by Charles Pachter is reproduced on the perforated metal fins on the west façade along Bathurst Street.

The image is visible from the interior and casts extraordinary patterns of shadow and light at different times of the day. The fins at the second level provide sun protection during the day and transparency into the library at dusk.

Fort York Branch Library
Site Plan
Fort York Branch Library
1st Floor plan

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

The selection of the site at the corner of Bathurst Street and Fort York Boulevard was an important step in the overall success of this project. In order to contribute to street animation and encourage use of nearby public transit, there is no public parking provided on site. A dedicated green roof makes up 52% of the total area.

The exterior fins mitigate heat gain and operable windows allow for natural cross-ventilation and passive cooling in the shoulder seasons and motorized interior blinds control direct sunlight and heat gain.

Fort York Branch Library
2nd Floor Plan

Kpmb Architects
T +1 416 9775104
Kpmb Architects
351 King Street East, Suite 1200, Toronto, Canada, M5A 0L6, Canada