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JAC Centre for Academic Excellence - a Library reimagined
- 3. John Abbott College was founded 1970. As of 2018, there were more than 6500 students enrolled in career and pre-university programs and 2100 students enrolled in the continuing education program.
- 17. METRICS: The renovated and expanded library houses 60,000 volumes, 10,000 items in media services, and offers 888 seats for students. The program includes two small discussion rooms for four people, nine discussion rooms for six persons, four discussion rooms for eight persons, and a larger, multifunctional space overlooking the former theatre that accommodates 16 students. In addition to traditional library services such as the circulation desk, reference services, multimedia services, and technical services, library staff are embedded throughout the facility. Other services essential to the College are also located in the library, including the English Writing Centre, the French Language Lab, student tutoring services, a facility for the testing of students with special needs, and a computer teaching lab.
- 66. EKM ARCHITECTURE François P. Emond Vedanta Balbahadur Cindy Williams Jean-Roch Marion Diana Elizalde Benoit Picard Sarmad Al-Mashta Carl Mulvey Shanie Jalbert-Bossé Isabelle Ducret Raquel Penelosa Michelle Vachon Questions ?
Editor's Notes
- Thank you to the organizers of the IFLA buildings and equipment seminar organizers, and in particular Diane Koen and Suzanne Payette.
- Armstrong building and Macdonald Campus, Sainte-Anne de Bellevue, site of John Abbott college
- Commissioned through a two stage competition, the mandate included the reconstruction of the existing facility, the integration of contemporary ventilation and air conditioning systems, the addition of a small extension to replace the former bay window. The transformation would bring badly needed contemporary teaching and learning facilities to students.
- Occupying the heart of the former Macdonald College, the Library of John Abbott College is situated in the centre of the complex constructed between 1904 and 1907 by the philanthropist and founder of MacDonald tobacco, Sir William Christopher Macdonald, designed by the architects Hutchison and Wood, and built between 1904 and 1907.
- Sir William Macdonald wished to bring the scientific method to rural Canada, whose culture and agriculture was lagging due to the lack of proper educational infrastructure. He envisioned MacDonald college as a transformative institution for a rural population in need of the technological and scientific tools necessary for success.
- 1961 extension – swimming pool esthetic
- Overburdened and damaged by ad-hoc renovations too numerous to list
- The 1980s renovation had lowered ceilings in order to introduce ventilation into the space, a curse to buildings built in the era of natural ventilation
- False beams containing duct work and an odd lighting strategy created a joyless environment
- Compelling architectural details had been stripped: stage, proscenium arch, organ, raked floor, balconies, etc. In their place: a dark and uninspiring space, full of problematic, dark meeting rooms.
- We saw the potential, however. A great effort was needed to clean up after a century of abuse.
- Metrics
- The concept was the story of a student over the course of a day, a ribbon which traversed the entire complex. Eschewing a single, linear storyline. Multiple tales were woven from multiple threads discovered within the existing building to generate a variety of ambiances, which are mapped to each function.
- Each zone was analysed and developed as a unique experience. Inspired by the architectural heritage and its imagery, the recreated spatial richness clearly resonates with the users. - Original 1907 wing, the 1961 extension, and all over, the 1980s modification
- The main reading room was reimagined to exploit the qualities already present. Stained red oak, in combination with a light greys, beige, and taupes, initiated the palette of materials. - A shock of yellow, the new bridge leading to the new elevator, would mark the boundaries of two environments
- The stepped forum was interpreted as a switch back staircase opening into the “winter garden”, bringing light and views into the lower level. The stacked discussion rooms animate the perimeter of the space.
- The former theatre was re-imagined as a multifunctional space, where, in addition to the formal study areas along the perimeter, the former parterre becomes an open, flexible space designed to receive a variety of events such as readings, plays, book fairs, career days, and even theatre events. A rendering showing the south balcony with the largest discussion room surrounded by casual seating.
- The entrance sequence immediately puts one in contact with the entire project. Quality direct and indirect lighting are introduced in the space Acoustic treatment as well as the ceiling (triggered due to the fact that the plaster delaminated and collapsed during construction, gave us the opportunity to address this long-standing problem.
- Looking towards the study tables with the stained glass evoking the great universities of the commonwealth and the Canadian provinces.
- The reading room in which we exposed and restored the former maple hardwood flooring.
- The quick consultation computer stations are situated just beyond the circulation desk - Please note that we were very fortunate to discover the former wood work buried in the dropped ceiling and restored it. We never did find the eagle, but it is probably in the Redpath Museum.
- - Reference desk situated below the golden bridge, with the quick consultation area, circulation desk, and entrance beyond.
- Looking back toward the entrance from the forum des échanges (a large open space) in the transformed 1961 extension where speaking in moderate volume is permitted.
- The stacked discussion rooms, which we commonly refer to as the “Hollywood Squares”.
- The bridge and spiral stair leading to the mezzanine.
- From the Forum des échanges, we move down into the basement with the stepped forum, with the discussion rooms stacked above.
- Returning to the original 1907 wing, which contains the majority of the collections.
- To recapitulate: we arrive from the left, move through the grand reading room, on to the Forum des échanges, with the Hollywood Squares, down the stepped forum into the Winter Garden, and switch back towards the Cyber Tunnel.
- Anatomy of a scene – vision of the Cyber Tunnel Initially, a nostalgic image of the future.
- ... which played itself literally early on.
- ... to later inspire itself from the heroic architecture of the Montreal metro.
- ... tapping into both its materiality (ceramic tiles), geometry (hexagonal) and its sense of movement
- The end zone with the polished stainless steel reflection.
- Inhabited
- And its use, which far exceeded our expectations.
- Our project is not a restoration project, however we conserved all of the former grand architectural details, while striving to conserve and even in some cases augment the patina of the old construction, through accelerated aging of new wood panelling.
- We were inspired by the magnificent stained glass windows, fruit, vegetables, and grains at the theatre, level.
- We used the glass to generate a palette, but also a pattern
- And pixelated into vinyl composite tiles
- Finally the winter garden envelope
- The design of the new library has become a series of short stories rather than a novel. Each space, besides responding to a particular need, offers a unique user experience. Eschewing a traditional narrative with introduction, body and resolution, the various parts invite a continuous and reciprocal flow between different moments and ambiances. Theses spaces respond to the needs of the student, who voluntarily select a space according to their own mood, which varies over time.
- Special thanks to the team and the project management at JAC – Catherine Scheer, project manager and Michael Johnston, director of Facilities management