vaughan | Building Projects

Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Vellore Village Library

Posted on November 15, 2016 by Denise | Tagged building projects, building update, new library, vaughan, vaughan public libraries, Vellore Village Library

Jasper Construction Corporation has been selected to build Vaughan Public Libraries’ tenth library. The 8,300 square foot library will be located at 1 Villa Royale Avenue connected to the Vellore Village Community Centre. The Vaughan Public Library Board, Mayor and Members of Council attended a November 12 groundbreaking ceremony for the new library which is designed by ZAS Architects and anticipated to open in late 2017.

“This is another great moment for Vaughan Public Libraries and the residents of Vaughan. We are very pleased Jasper Construction Corporation will help us make this new library a reality.” said Devender Sandhu, Chair of Vaughan Public Library Board. “Like VPL’s other nine branches, Vellore Village South Library will positively enrich, inspire and transform our community.”

“When designing the new library, we made sure to minimize its physical impact on the existing building and amenities, including the skate park.” said Margie Singleton, CEO, Vaughan Public Libraries. “We again adopted a collaborative design approach by incorporating suggestions from the public gathered from surveys and focus groups to ensure the library meets the needs of our community.”

The site will house an inspiring facility that will respond to VPL’s mission of offering a welcoming destination that educates, excites and empowers the Vaughan community. The new library will be attached to the existing community centre and will be approximately 8,300 sq. ft. in size being visually distinctive, yet complementary and a modern addition to a much larger building development.

Other highlights of the building are:

High performance envelope and white roof to reduce environmental heat gain and heat loss
Use of predominantly local materials to reduce carbon footprint
Natural ventilation strategy and daylight harvesting to reduce the hvac and lighting energy load
Large east-facing reading balcony that overlooks the skate park

Proposed services & collections that will be offered at the new library include:

Full suite of programs including storytimes, book clubs, technology training
Materials for adults, youth and children on a wide variety of subjects, including popular and high demand materials and support for the school curriculum
Technology such as word processing and presentation software
Collaboration spaces for group study
Storytime area that is part of the children’s area and invites participation

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.

VVSL Groundbreaking Ceremony November 12

Front row (L to R): VPL Board Trustees Manjit Kaur, Rose Savage (Vice-Chair) and Devender Sandhu (Chair); Daniel Kostopoulos, Vaughan City Manager; Michael Di Biase, Deputy Mayor & Regional Councillor; Loreta Pavese, VPL Board Trustee; Sandra Yeung Racco, Ward 4 Councillor & VPL Board Trustee; Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua; Rosanna DeFrancesca, Ward 3 Councillor & VPL Board Trustee; Marilyn Iafrate, Ward 1 Councillor & VPL Board Trustee; Mario Ferri, Regional Councillor & VPL Board Trustee; Gino Rosati, Regional Councillor; VPL Board Trustees Maya Goldenberg and Cristina Rizzuto. Back row (left to right): John Appugliesi, President & CEO of Jasper Construction; VPL Board Trustees Jane Kelly, Palma Pallante, and Ugo Di Federico; Margie Singleton (VPL CEO); Steve Kerwin, VPL Board Trustee, and Paul Stevens, Senior Principal at ZAS Architects + Interiors

Councillor DeFrancesca and Mayor Bevilacqua

Ward 3 Councillor & VPL Board Trustee, Rosanna DeFrancesca and Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua

Vellore Village South Library Groundbreaking with Speakers

Left to right: John Appugliesi, President & CEO of Jasper Construction; Devender Sandhu, VPL Library Board Chair; Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, City of Vaughan; Margie Singleton, VPL CEO; Rosanna DeFrancesca, Ward 3 Councillor and Library Board Trustee; Paul Stevens, Senior Principal of ZAS Architects + Interiors

L to R: John Appugliesi and Joseph Zinni of Jasper Construction; Ella Mamiche, ZAS Architects + Interiors; Paul Marcoccia and Wei Chiao from the City of Vaughan; Margie Singleton, VPL CEO; Aleksandra Dowiat Vine (VPL); Del Cordeiro and Paul Stevens of ZAS Architects + Interiors

VPL Executive Management Team (left to right): Aleksandra Dowiat Vine, Sandy Vander Werff, Margie Singleton, VPL CEO; Marilyn Guy and Lisa McDonough

Kleinburg Library celebrates 50 years with RetroFest!

Posted on November 11, 2016 by Denise | Tagged city of vaughan, kleinburg library, vaughan, vaughan public libraries

Vaughan Public Libraries celebrated Kleinburg Library‘s 50th birthday on Saturday, November 5 with the Kleinburg RetroFest, a 60s-inspired afternoon complete with music, festive fall food & drink, hula hoops, karaoke, retro contests and more!

From left to right: Deb Schulte, MP for King-Vaughan; Sougata Mallik (VPL); Regional Councillor & Library Board Trustee, Mario Ferri; Library Board Trustee, Steve Kerwin; VPL CEO, Margie Singleton; Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, City of Vaughan; Aleksandra Dowiat Vine (VPL); Vaughan Public Library Board Chair, Devender Sandhu; Ruthanne Price (VPL); Lisa McDonough (VPL); Sandy VanderWerff (VPL); Jennifer Stephen (VPL); Vincent Sacchetti (VPL); Rosa Convertini (VPL); Frances Richardson (VPL) and Andrea Wesson (VPL).

Thanks to everyone who joined us!

September 10, 2016: Grand Opening Celebration of the Civic Centre Resource Library!

Posted on September 6, 2016 by Denise | Tagged city of vaughan, Civic Centre Resource Library, new library, vaughan, vaughan public libraries

Join us on Saturday, September 10 for Vaughan Public Libraries’ (VPL) Grand Opening Celebration of its ninth location, the Civic Centre Resource Library. The official ceremony and ribbon cutting begins at 11 a.m. at 2191 Major Mackenzie Drive, Vaughan.

Grand Opening Celebration September 10, 2016

A fun-filled day is planned including appearances by Kids’ CBC Patty & Bookaboo, Franklin the Turtle and Scaredy Squirrel, demos in the library’s new digital media lab (includes a recording studio and green room), live entertainment, free refreshments, booktalks, giveaways and prizes, including the Grand Prize–a chance to win tickets to MATILDA THE MUSICAL at Toronto’s Ed Mirvish Theatre. Click here for a schedule of events.

Special thanks goes to our Grand Opening Celebration sponsors: Aquicon Construction Co. Ltd., Colliers Project Leaders, Umanii, Seara Bakery, Toetera Fine Foods, Monte Carlo Inns and COBS Bread. Music throughout the day generously provided by The Replacements.

“Trees” and flowers have been planted at the Civic Centre Resource Library

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Denise | Tagged building update, Civic Centre Resource Library, vaughan, vaughan public libraries

Beautifully carved trees have been placed in the Children’s area of the library.
Phrases such as “Read” and “Row, row, row your boat” can be found imprinted on the trunks. You and your children can delight in the artistry while choosing which books to take home with you.

If you are a fan of the hot summer weather, grab a book, smell the flowers, and relax outside on our second-story patio. There is a chair with your name on it!

While you’re here, check out the rest of the library!

Civic Centre Resource Library Update – Jan. 23

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Denise | Tagged building update, city of vaughan, Civic Centre Resource Library, construction, frames, January 23, new library, vaughan, vaughan public libraries

This week has been a great week at the Civic Centre Resource Library as workers continue to construct the frames of the building. Take a look at the site from different views and imagine how stunning the library will look once construction finishes.