Brampton Library, Springdale branch

Library

The Springdale Library and Komagata Maru Park designed by RDHA architects, integrate itself into the edge of the main intersection on Bramalea and Sandalwood Parkway. It is an example of “ progressive organic architecture and urbanism that focuses on an experience set within the typical fabric of a North American suburb.” Inaugurated in 2019, the opening of Brampton Library’s Springdale Branch introduced a single storey structure. It rests on a triangular footprint of the library that optimizes the utilization of green areas.

This interactive design is also new to RDHA’s portfolio of libraries as they typically consist of linear forms and straight edges. The main structure maintains the integrity of the site's natural landscape and circulation as the structure was situated near the street to enhance its visibility. The organic perimeter connects the building with courtyards, while the topography resembles the ceiling and the mountainous green roof that extends throughout the interior space and blends with the park landscape.

History

Brampton's Springdale Library was designed by RDHA Architects to foster a sense of community regardless of one's background and age. In commemoration of the 1914 incident involving Canada's discriminatory immigration policies, the library was constructed, being a symbol of Canada's celebration of multiculturalism and immigration.¹ The tragedy was the defining moment in naming Komagata Maru Park as 376 immigrants met a mortality in the steamship, Komagata Maru due to restrictive immigration regulations in Canada. The City of Brampton intends to honour this incident by pushing the themes of immigration and cultural diversity into this new design.

Architecture

The design of the Springdale Library and the Komagata Park was designed by RDH Architects Inc with Lead Architect Tyler Sharp. Construction of the library finished in the summer of 2019 with a construction cost of $16 670 000 and an area of 26000 sf (2,418 sm). According to RDHA's approach, every component of the library is designed with a focus on nontraditional design while utilising traditional resources and expenditures.

The building contains 20,000 square feet of library program with a 5,000-square-foot community multipurpose room and library space that’s 4 times the size included in the interior program with a subtle ceiling that blends in with the glass walls, hiding mechanical systems and insulation. Within this stunning building, a variety of digital and printed works are available, as well as books. In addition to a well-equipped community space with 3D printing, the 2,400-square-meter complex includes an expansive multi-purpose room for meetings, exhibitions, and public gatherings. This building creates a space where the community can gather and learn comfortably.⁵ Within the rooms, various dividers, materials, and soundproofing modifications cater for an assortment of programs.

RDHA focuses equally on the building design and landscape. Such as the naturally shaped perimeter that divides the building and courtyards to the undulating topography between the ceiling and steep green roof. As well as from the ground level, the organic curve of the roof integrates into the ravine's sloping topography. As well as the interior's sloping floor slab, park landscape and overall triangular shape. The triangle plan is separated into three wings: a children's area, a study space, and a community room, with glazed partitions providing nearly complete visual continuity between them. Transparency is employed to attract visitors to enter the building while simultaneously providing a clear understanding of the architecture. Furthermore, the way the windows of the structure are constructed acts as a functional abstraction. Both the floor and the roofscape rise and fall in the centre, the ceiling rises to an oculus 13 feet across, which is depicted on the outside as a massive mound wrapped in a green roof.

Another oculus can be found in the children's area, where a thin-edged oval of drywall extends down from the ceiling, forming a half-enclosed space between the sky and the green-carpeted floor. The neighbourhood park has a series of terraced contemplative gardens for elder users, a splash pad, and a children's playground, encouraging all ages of the community to interact with the space. The splash pad and play area are themed on the word Imagine, with five-meter-high letters that are aligned in both horizontal and vertical planes, creating an interactive feature for the children to explore.

The skylight is positioned over the reading atrium, along with a curved wall that contributes elevation to the expansive space. To create an unconventional appearance each part of the building utilizes conventional materials. It exhibits multiple interior details, such as a curving void of perforated drywall that is connected to off-the-shelf framing components. In collaboration with Brady Peter, Tyler Sharp, principal of RDHA Design, created a solar-responsive ceramic frit pattern for the building's windows. Depending on where the sun is positioned, its streaking patterns range from white to dark grey. Providing sun protection, these rods also define the courtyard enclosures. Through its glass curtain wall, transparency is created between spaces inside and outside, allowing sunlight to reach even the smallest interior spaces.

Sustainable Approach

The Springdale Library and Komagata Park hold a LEED gold rating which was the targeted level of sustainability that the City of Brampton encouraged  RDHA to achieve. Collaborating with Brady Peters, Tyler Sharp RDHA Design Principal created a solar-responsive ceramic frit pattern for the building’s windows. This custom design expands and contracts to deal with varying degrees of solar radiation. According to Springdale’s LEED scorecard, a substantial amount of focus was put on water efficiency, innovation in design, and regional priority as they were the categories that attained the maximum amount of points. Numerous initiatives were implemented such as geothermal heating and cooling; low VOC materials throughout; green roofs that strive to improve thermal insulation; and a rainwater collection system that provides grey water for use in toilets, reflecting pools, irrigation, the community splash pad, and bioswales which help to contribute to the overall resiliency of the building.

Awards

2022 Lieutenant Governor’s Award

2022 OAA Design Excellence Award

2022 ALA/IIDA Award of Excellence

2022 Miles Crown Prize Nominee

2021 Architizer A+Awards Winner

2020 Governor General’s Medal in Architecture

2020 Canadian Interiors Best of Canada Award

2020 Architecture MasterPrize Award, including a “Best of the Best” distinction

2020 Chicago Athenaeum International Architecture Award

2020 ALA/IIDA Library Interior Design Award

2020 RAIC National Urban Design Certificate of Merit

2019 Brampton Urban Design Award of Excellence

2019 CISC Award of Excellence

2019 OLA Library Building Award

2015 Canadian Architect Award for Design Excellence

Reference

https://www.archdaily.com/938665/springdale-library-and-komagata-maru-park-rdh-architects

https://www.canadianarchitect.com/rdhas-springdale-library-wins-ala-iidc-award/

https://www.architectmagazine.com/project-gallery/springdale-library-komagata-maru-park_o

https://zinco-greenroof.com/references/springdale-library-brampton

https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/case-studies/a5335-springdale-library-komagata-maru-park-by-rdh-architects-a-point-of-pride/

https://www.rdharch.com/springdale-public-library-1/