Regina Public Library is hosting tours from Oct 25 to 29, 2022 “to share information about the history of the building and some of the issues we are facing. Join us for a guided tour to hear about key concerns and remediation RPL has been undertaking to keep it safe. There will be opportunity to ask questions along the way. This tour provides a chance to learn more about the Central Library Renewal (CLR) project, one of the infrastructure projects being reviewed by the City of Regina’s Catalyst Committee. Tours begin in the lobby and will last approximately one hour. Tues, Oct 25 2:00pm – 3:00pm, Wed, Oct 26 2:00pm – 3:00pm, Wed, Oct 26 6:00pm – 7:00pm, Thurs, Oct 27 6:00pm – 7:00pm, Sat, Oct 29 10:00am – 11:00am For more information, and to register for a tour: https://central.reginalibrary.ca/” You must preregister – have your library card handy or be prepared to sign up for one.

Note that these tours are supposed to talk about the heritage aspects of the building, but their main focus will be on the problems with the building, to justify the RPL Board’s decision to tear it down. So be prepared for this line of thought, and your questions about the building.

Deadline Oct 31st:  Send presentations that were given to the RPL Board, presentations given at Catalyst Committee and other thoughts to Catalyst Committee.  

It has been suggested to us that it would be good to have your presentations and letters sent to the Catalyst Committee by the end of October.

Send to:  Attention Co-chairs Tim Reid + Bob Hawkins at catalyst@regina.ca and

Tim Reid at tim.reid@real1884.ca and dakota.schmidt@real1884.ca 

Bob Hawkins at  bhawkins@regina.ca 

Cc: Regina City Council Clerks at clerks@regina.ca  – to forward to Mayor and all Council.

Just posted by the City of Regina on Friday at 2:30 (ish) pm before the long weekend, a media release outlining the “opportunity” of 4 hours time to comment on the RPL proposal about Central Library. This Committee will make recommendations to the City of Regina about City support of major projects, including Central Library. 

Regina Residents Invited to Provide Input on Once-in-a-Generation Catalyst Committee Projects, October 7, 2022

https://www.regina.ca/news/Regina-Residents-Invited-to-Provide-Input-on-Once-in-a-Generation-Catalyst-Committee-Projects/

• Consultations will be from 11 am to 1 pm and 5 to 7 pm from Oct. 17 to 20
• Central Library will be discussed on Oct. 20
• People can go there and make a presentation – apparently a 30-minute time limit.
• Currently there is no arrangement for broadcasting the event on the internet, so no ability to make a presentation or to hear what is being said.
• People can create display storyboards for display, to be at the AGT location by Friday Oct 14 (presumably at close of the business day?).
• There is no downtown location for a discussion of the downtown.
• There will be a BEHEARD survey on the City of Regina website (www.beheard.regina.ca/catalyst-committee) starting on October 17th.  
• You can currently send them questions now. 
• In an interview with Paul Dechene of Prairie Dog Magazine, Councillor Hawkins, co-chair of the Catalyst Committee, said they will be accepting written submissions.  Written submissions or questions should be emailed to clerks@regina.ca with the subject line as Catalyst Committee.
• Paul Dechene’s Oct. 6^th interview “Catalyst Committee Interview With Councillor Hawkins” where the goals of the Committee are explained. Queen City Improvement Bureau Podcasts  http://queencityib.com/podcasts/2022/10/7/oct-07-2022-catalyst-committee-interview-with-councillor-hawkins

There have been many libraries that have rehabilitated and expanded their space, showing that we can also do this in Regina, preserving our heritage modernist building, while enhancing the library. These are some examples.

Moose Jaw Public Library

•  main library https://www.moosejawlibrary.ca/
• Addition to library includes Moose Jaw Museum and Art Gallery  http://www.mjmag.ca/
• History of the Moose Jaw Library. The last paragraph talks about the addition. They were going to build a new building in another location, but instead renovated the original library beautifully and constructed an addition. https://www.moosejawlibrary.ca/history-of-the-library
• Also see page 135, Architecture of Saskatchewan, A Visual Journey, 1930 – 2011, by Bernard Flaman, University of Regina, CPRC Press, published 2013. https://saskarchitects.com/celebrating-architecture/architecture-in-saskatchewan/

Winnipeg Millennium Library https://winnipegarchitecture.ca/251-donald-street/

The Patkau rehabilitation of the 1967 Winnipeg Centennial Library. https://www.patkau.ca/projects/winnipeg-millennium-library

          Completed in 2005 for $21-million, the Patkau expansion of the Winnipeg Millennium Library added 3,700 square metres (40,000 sq ft) of new space, construction of a new fourth floor, and renovations throughout the existing 10,000-square-metre (110,000 sq ft) library.

          Awards: General’s Medal in Architecture (2008); Lieutenant-Governor’s Medal in Architecture (2007); Prairie Design Award (2006); and the Canadian Architect Award of Excellence (2004).

Edmonton Library https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/edmonton-public-library-reopening-1.5724880 and video https://www.epl.ca/milner-library/   $85 million.

Renos and refurbishments in Toronto libraries https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/renovations/

Runnymede $3.3 million expansion. 2006.Design Excellence Award  (2007)Ontario Association of Architects   https://www.strattonarchitects.com/runnymede-public-library

Bloor/Gladstone District Library https://www.rdharch.com/bloor-gladstone-library-1 and https://www.archdaily.com/133796/the-bloorgladstone-library-rdh-architects

           “The Bloor/Gladstone Branch library project is a renovation and addition to a listed heritage library in downtown Toronto. The architects were commissioned to design for an additional 12,000 sqf, bringing the collection and facilities to a level consistent with that of a Toronto District Library. The final design includes major renovations to the existing building as well as the construction of an addition.” 2009.

Robarts Library, University of Toronto https://dsai.ca/projects/robarts-common/ and https://dailyhive.com/toronto/u-of-t-robarts-library-expansion-renderings ( add 50,000 sq ft.)

          “With ample natural light, room for 1,200 students to study in quiet or socialize in soundproofed rooms, and accessible spaces for the entire U of T community, Robarts Common is a human-centred, collaborative area. Opening in advance of the 50th anniversary of Robarts Library, Robarts Common is part of a wider revitalization of the iconic building in the heart of U of T’s downtown campus.”     https://defygravitycampaign.utoronto.ca/news-and-stories/official-opening-of-robarts-common/

OCAD University (Ontario College of Art and Design), Toronto https://all.design/willalsop/ocad

          Another possibility would be to build up on the west lot and partially over the current building. The addition by architect Will Alsop to the Ontario College of Art is a striking example of what could be done. Described as a flying box-on-legs” it definitely has a “buzzy vibe” (link to site -Will Alsop on 10 Years of OCAD U’s Sharp Centre for Design) https://www.designlinesmagazine.com/will-alsop-10-years/ .

Hamilton Central Library https://www.rdharch.com/hamilton-central-library-and-farmers-market-1.

          “This major renovation in downtown Hamilton rejuvenates the existing facility through the reorganisation of both program elements: the first two stories are re-clad in glazed curtain wall while an addition is placed at the northwest corner to reconfigure the main entry. The resulting transparent, glowing, horizontal slab reconnects the library to the market and to the new street edge, projecting the life and vitality of the library and market the city and its inhabitants. “

          Awards: 2014 Chicago Athenaeum International Award of Excellence, 2012 Ontario Library Association Award of Excellence, 2012 Canadian Interiors Best of Canada Award2011 OAA Award for Design Excellence, 2011 Design Exchange National Bronze Medal,2009 Canadian Architect Awards of Excellence Notable Mention.

The Morgan Library and Museum, New York https://www.themorgan.org/architecture/renzo-piano/expansion

Boston Library https://rawnarch.com/projects/bpl-boylston.html

Beyazit State Library, Istanbul, Turkey https://www.archdaily.com/791885/beyazit-state-library-tabanlioglu-architects

OTHER BUILDING ADDITIONS

Watari Museum of Art, built on a 600 square meter site (about the same size as the Central Library west lot) with 6 floors giving 3600 sq. meters of space. http://www.watarium.co.jp/en/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watari_Museum_of_Contemporary_Art

The reports on the future of Central Library are available on the Regina Public Library website.

Central Library Renewal overview https://www.reginalibrary.ca/about/major-projects

Central Library Renewal recent developments and reports https://cld.reginalibrary.ca/

Central Library Reports dating back to 2009 https://cld.reginalibrary.ca/?q=node/18

Note that in August of 2022, 5 reports from 2010 to 2015 were listed, including the “RPL P3 Canada Fund: Round Three Application” of 2011. On September 16, 2022 sixteen reports were listed, minus the P3 Fund application. Twelve reports were made available for the first time. These reports dated back as far as 2009.

It is good to have these reports now.

But why were these reports not made available to the public earlier on?

On CBC Morning Edition this morning Mayor Masters agreed that 4 days is not enough time for the public to consider the RPL decision pending on Sept. 27 to demolish the Central Library and rebuild, and at the upcoming Board meeting she would suggest more time for public review.

Please make a submission to the RPL Board by Sept. 20 for their Sept. 27th meeting to voice your views on the future of the building and the need for more time for the public to review RPL report recommendations, available on Sept. 16.

See details on how to respond in the post below.