Jasper Place Library

After 25 years since its last major renovation, the Jasper Place Library in Edmonton, Alberta, was in need of a fresh new look. The hard facade of faded red and brown bricks had long outgrown this west-end community that has been working so hard to revitalize itself but still maintain its old-style charm and history. With a growing community in mind and goals of making the new Jasper Place Library achieve a minimum of LEED® Silver certification, Williams Engineering partnered with architects HCMA and Dub Architects to create an open and inviting environment for families to use as a hub for creativity and learning.

The design vision became a 15,000-square-foot building featuring an undulating concrete roof with no pillars inside to support it. Over 90 percent of the space is touched by natural daylight, and the window design takes advantage of solar exposure to help blend the outdoor and indoor spaces to make the library truly welcoming.

Overlooking the main floor, the building’s mezzanine level has stairs at each end, which double as reading spaces or amphitheatre seating during special events. The new library also includes 19 public computers, special computers reserved for children, a children’s activity area, a quiet study space, a community program room, a freshwater aquarium, and a stunning outdoor terrace.

Being the mechanical and electrical engineers on this project, we ensured all of the ductwork and wiring was under the raised floor to allow for easy reconfigurations of the space. The availability of the floor plenum and the high ceilings allowed our mechanical team to use thermal displacement ventilation for optimal effectiveness and energy efficiency. The access floor also affords the ultimate space flexibility to Edmonton Public Libraries as all services can be easily modified to suit the facility’s changing needs.