The original library design, by Moriyama Teshima Architects has stood handsomely over the years as a Toronto landmark. The renovation and expansion of the existing building transforms the facility into an exciting contemporary venue and renewed heart of the community.
A striking architectural icon, the building now welcomes visitors through a dramatic new entrance; a transparent Glass Box that is both gateway and threshold, and a lens into the heart of the building.
Inside, the building redefines the traditional library experience through state-of-the-art design and technology. Renovated spaces include an expansive Event Centre to host major cultural and literary events; a Special Collections Rotunda that celebrates the library’s rich and varied collections; numerous Idea Gardens at various locations; innovative, custom designed study pods, learning labs and meeting rooms that offer cutting edge technologies; and a complete reconfiguration of the library’s stacks to enhance and simplify the research process and encourage enjoyment and discovery.
Toronto Public Library
429,000 SF
Daniel Teramura
Carol Phillips
Gord Doherty
Ronen Bauer
Ajon Moriyama
Allan Yee, Brad Miles, Chris Yen, Christie Mills, Elias Saoud, Fabian Grieco, Gene Ascenzi, Greg Perkins, Joni Inouye, Maya Desai, Michael Nicholas-Schmidt, Norman Jennings, Paul Aquilina, Phil Silverstein, Ryan Trinidad, Scott Wiseman, Tiffany Chang
“In my view one of the most important qualities about MTA—in addition to their tremendous skills and professionalism as designers — is their ability to LISTEN and RESPOND. Their proposed design for the transformation of a very well-loved building reflects all of our best ideas solicited through a rich and collaborative process in which we have at all times felt ourselves central to the design process and, ultimately, in control of the final design outcome.”
— Linda Mackenzie, Director of Research and Reference Libraries, Toronto Public Library
The renovation and expansion of the existing building transforms the facility into an exciting contemporary venue and renewed heart of the community.
