Saskatoon’s new central library is quintessentially Indigenous and sustainable

by arslan_ahmed | October 19, 2022 9:47 am

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Formline Architecture + Urbanism, Chevalier Morales architectes, and Architecture49 have designed Saskatoon’s new central library, inspired by the traditional First Nation and Métis architecture to bring reconciliation and sustainability to the forefront.

The most visible influence from Indigenous architecture is seen in the exterior facade at the building’s north end, designed to resemble the opening in a tipi, creating a welcoming entrance to the building.

A First Nation tipi is a tent-like structure with a pointed tip and a conical shape built from lodgepoles, with animal hides forming its skin, letting in diffused natural light.

The library’s envelope has been designed similarly, with the use of transparent, translucent, and opaque triple-glazed windows, which will let in natural light and provide better energy efficiency due to improved insulation. Sensors installed in the building will be able to dim the artificial light in areas of profuse natural light.

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Another Indigenous architectural structure the building is inspired from is the Métis log cabin, with its use of exposed mass timber panels, amalgamated in a hybrid concrete structure on the main and lower levels. The second to top floors will use a cross-laminated timber and concrete system supported by glulam wood columns.

A raised-floor system will be used to distribute mechanical and electrical services, reducing the need for bulkheads, and allowing for displacement ventilation. This follows the same principle as the stratification of air within a tipi, building on the principle of hot air rising and exhausting at a higher elevation.

Another aspect of the project is the use of landscaping and green spaces, evocative of Indigenous preference for open lands with verdant areas, also offsetting the carbon footprint of the development.

The 13,192-m² (142,000-sf) library will play an important role in connecting Saskatoon’s green spaces to the Remai Modern art museum, as well as surrounding shops and pedestrian traffic. Unlike other Canadian cities, Saskatoon has a low park-to-person ratio; citywide, there are 4.4 ha (10.9 acres) of green space per 1000 people, compared to 10 ha (24.7 acres) in Halifax, and 42 ha (103.8 acres) in Calgary. This observation guides the choices in terms of public space.

Landscaped public spaces will occupy 45 per cent of the site at the north and south end, making Saskatoon the ideal location for the establishment of a library of such ambition. The city has the highest ratio of Aboriginal residents of any major Canadian city, and within 50 years, its population will be predominantly Aboriginal and Métis.

Source URL: https://www.constructioncanada.net/saskatoons-new-central-library-is-quintessentially-indigenous-and-sustainable/

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