Construction work on the Civic Centre Resource Library began in September. Excavation of the site is now completed and the site has been elevated and leveled to the level of the street.
Workers have now finished the footing installation, and the installation of foundation wall forms and backfilling of the building envelope continues.
Here are a few photo updates of the construction site.
Great news! The construction phase of the new resource library has started.
The fence is now up surrounding the site where the new resource library will be built in preparation for the construction phase of the project.
VAUGHAN, ON – Vaughan Public Libraries (VPL) announced yesterday that Aquicon Construction Co. Ltd. has been selected to build the third resource library in the City of Vaughan, which will be located at 2191 Major Mackenzie Drive. The Vaughan Public Library Board, Mayor and Members of Council attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the new library to celebrate the start of the construction phase of the building project. The library, designed by ZAS Architects is anticipated to open in 2015.
“This is another great moment for the Civic Centre Resource Library building project. We are very pleased to have Aquicon Construction on board to help us make the new resource library a reality.” said Michael McKenzie, Chair of Vaughan Public Library Board. “This new library is both a significant and valuable addition to both Vaughan Public Libraries and the City of Vaughan. Like all of VPL’s branches, it will provide a welcoming destination that educates, excites and empowers our community,” added McKenzie.
“Designing the new library is an exciting yet difficult task. To ensure the library meets the needs of our community, we adopted a collaborative design approach by incorporating suggestions from members of the community gathered from surveys, focus groups and community meetings conducted over the past few years.” said Margie Singleton, CEO, Vaughan Public Libraries. “I am delighted to say that the new library will indeed meet the many needs of our diverse community”.
The exterior of the library building is spectacular yet uniquely designed. It features a transparent look created by:
The interior of the library is futuristic yet welcoming and features the following:
In addition, the library is designed to be a green building which complies with the City of Vaughan’s Green Building Policy. It will also be an accessible facility that offers accessible shelving and technologies to accommodate individuals with special needs.
(From left to right): VPL Board Trustees Steve Kerwin, Isabella Ferrara, Grace Locilento, Suri Rosen, Regional Councillor and VPL Board Trustee Michael Di Biase, Deputy Mayor, Regional Councillor and VPL Board Trustee Gino Rosati, President of Aquicon Construction Co. Ltd Daniel Aquino, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, VPL Board Chair Michael McKenzie, VPL CEO Margie Singleton, Ward 1 Councillor and VPL Board Trustee Marilyn Iafrate, Regional Councillor Deb Schulte, Ward 4 Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco, Ward 3 Councillor and VPL Board Trustee Rosanna DeFrancesca, Architect of ZAS Architect Inc. Dieter Janssen and VPL Board Trustee Lorraine de Boer attending the Civic Centre Resource Library groundbreaking ceremony on June 26.
(From L to R): President of Aquicon Construction Co. Ltd. Daniel Aquino, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, VPL Board Chair Michael McKenzie, VPL CEO Margie Singleton and Dieter Janssen of ZAS Architects Inc.
(From L to R): Emilio Fullone and Robert Aquino of Aquicon Construction Co. Ltd., VPL Director of Planning and Communications Terri Watman and Dieter Janssen of ZAS Architects Inc.
Executive Team from VPL (From L to R): Aleksandra Dowiat Vine, Terri Watman, Margie Singleton, Sandy VanderWerff and Lisa McDonough
Master of Ceremonies – VPL Board Chair Michael McKenzie
Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua
Ward 1 Councillor and VPL Board Trustee Marilyn Iafrate
A site dedication ceremony was held on Oct. 17, dedicating the north-west quadrant of the Civic Centre Campus as the site of the future home of Vaughan Public Libaries’ third resource library. Despite the rain, the Vaughan Public Library Board, and Mayor and Members of Council were in attendance.The library being designed by ZAS Architects Inc., is now in the conceptual design phase. Construction is expected to begin in 2014 with anticipated completion in 2015.
“The City of Vaughan and Vaughan Public Libraries have been collaborating since 2002 when plans for the third resource library began. We appreciate the funding support we have received from the City. This site will house an inspiring facility that will respond to VPL’s Mission of offering a welcoming destination that educates, excites and empowers our community. We are confident that the resource library will be a vibrant element of the City Hall precinct.” said Michael McKenzie, Chair, Vaughan Public Library Board.
“The Library Board spent a considerable amount of time discussing what role this new library would fill and how it would enhance the community,” continued McKenzie. “We created an overview of architectural considerations based on input from the community and staff.”
The professionals at ZAS were tasked with creating a library for the community that is:
Internally providing:
Highlights of proposed services & collections that will be included in the new library:
(From left to right) Ward 3 Councillor & Vaughan Public Library(VPL) Board Trustee Rosanna DeFrancesca, VPL Board Trustee Vivek Gupta, Deputy Mayor, Regional Councillor and VPL Board Trustee Gino Rosati, VPL CEO Margie Singleton, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, VPL Board Chair Michael McKenzie, Ward 1 Councillor & VPL Board Trustee Marilyn Iafrate, VPL Board Trustee Steve Kerwin, VPL Board Trustee Isabella Ferrara, VPL Board Trustee Pradeep Puri, VPL Board Trustee Marie Chiaromonte, Ward 4 Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco, Regional Councillor Deb Schulte and Regional Councillor & VPL Board Trustee Michael Di Biase were on-site to dedicate the north-west quadrant of the Civic Centre Campus as the site of the future home of Vaughan Public Libraries’ third resource library
(From left to right) Vaughan Public Library Board: Marie Chiaromonte, Rosanna DeFrancesca, Michael Di Biase, Devender Sandhu (Vice-Chair), Margie Singleton (CEO), Michael McKenzie (Chair), Pradeep Puri, Steve Kerwin, Marilyn Iafrate, Isabella Ferrara, Vivek Gupta and Gino Rosati
(From left to right) VPL Board Vice-Chair Devender Sandhu, Peter Duckworth-Pilkington and Dieter Janssen of ZAS Architect Inc., VPL CEO Margie Singleton, VPL Board Chair Michael McKenzie, Commissioner of Community Services Marlon Kallideen and Ward 1 Councillor & VPL Board Trustee Marilyn Iafrate
(From left to right) VPL Board Chair Michael McKenzie, VPL CEO Margie Singleton, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and Ward 1 Councillor & VPL Board Trustee Marilyn Iafrate
(From left to right) Interim City Manager Barbara Cribbett, VPL CEO Margie Singleton and VPL Board Chair Michael McKenzie
A new resource Library is being planned for the Maple community at Vaughan City Hall (on the S.E. corner of Keele & Major Mackenzie). Please fill out a short survey to provide your feedback on the proposed design. Let us know how you will use the library and offer your suggestion for the name of the new library. Below are selected architectural renderings of the project.
View north towards entrance
View towards library entrance on Major Mackenzie
View towards City Hall
Children’s area
View from entrance
View from courtyard
Floor plan
A new resource library is being planned for the Maple community. Vaughan Public Libraries invites all area residents to a community open house to meet the team from ZAS Architects who are working on this project, and share ideas and suggestions for your new library. Come and take part in shaping your community.
When: Thursday, October 3, 7 – 9 p.m.
Where: Vaughan City Hall, 2141 Major Mackenzie Drive W.
. First Floor, Multi-Purpose Program Room
To register, please email vpl.admin@vaughan.ca or call 905.653.READ (7323), ext. 4103.
At the March 5 Committee of the Whole (Working Session), the Council received a report from senior City of Vaughan staff with proposed recommendation to the existing Civic Centre Master Plan. Among the recommendations, the report proposes the relocation of the Civic Centre Resource Library site from its existing location on the south-east part of the campus to the north-west quadrant of the civic square fronting onto Major Mackenzie Drive.
At the subsequent Library Board meeting on March 21, the Library Board was supportive of the proposed recommendation regarding site relocation. The relocation will have a positive impact on the visual presence of the library on Major Mackenzie Dr. and will further help to easily identify the library as a desirable destination to the community.
The recommendation was approved by Council on April 23.
Future planning meetings with the architectural firm will resume shortly.
Council approved the recommendation of the Vaughan Public Library Board to secure ZAS Architects Inc. as the firm to design the new Civic Centre Resource Library. The new library will be part of the Civic Centre complex located at Major Mackenzie Drive and Keele Street.
The planning process for the new library is underway with regular meetings with the architect company. It is currently anticipated that the design will be finalized by late summer with excavation beginning fall 2013. The construction project is anticipated to take 18 months with full project completion in early 2015.
Stay up to date on this building project. Check back often for the latest news on the Civic Centre Resource Library.