New library adds to growing list of architectural hits in downtown Calgary

They might be having trouble finding tenants, but thanks to a spate of critically-acclaimed buildings designed by some of the world's leading star architects or starchitectsCalgary is growing into a destination for design lovers.

That's the word from University of Calgary Associate Professor Jason Johnson, who appeared on The Calgary Eyeopener Wednesdayto talk about the Calgary Public Library's new central branchbeing named by Architectural Digest as one of the 12 new buildings to watch for in 2018.

While Johnson had plenty to praise about the innovative design work of Norway's Snohetta and Calgary's DIALOG the firms behind the new library he also pointed out the library is just one of several new Calgary buildings to make an international splash over the past few years.

"Within the fiveblock radius of where this building isgoing up, we've got buildings by threearchitects that are on this list," said Johnson.

"We've got the new Telus Sky (Building)architects, which is by the BjarkeInglesgroup (also in collaboration with DIALOG)," Johnson said.

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"They're also on this (Architectural Digest) list with another building (the ARC Power Plant project in Copenhagen, Denmark). And the recently completed Studio Bell, which I believe is on one of the lists (and is designed) by Allied Works out of Portland."

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Architects head for East Village

Throw in the Bow Building, designed byNorman Foster and perhaps the controversial Peace Bridge, designed by Spanish architect SantiagoCalatrava,if you want to extend the geographic boundaries a few additional blocksand Calgary has become an architectural oasis, Johnson says.

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"We host quite a few (visiting) architects on campus, and they're always interested in going down to the East Village to check out projects they've heard of," Johnson said.

"As we mature as a city, we'll be getting more people who are coming to visit here, as opposed to just a lot of us going to other places to see good architecture."

Connecting to the community

Johnson said there were a number of reasons why the new library might attract the attention of the architectural elite.

"One of the things is it potentially does a really good job of is connecting people from the street into the building," Johnson said."In order to do that, they've had to push theLRT(light rapid transit station) under the building."

"Whatthat allowed them to do is create a nice sequence to enter the buildingfrom the street so you don't have to climb over the tracks or under them but you can actually just enter into the buildingand (then)they've (also) created this wood surface that goes overhead as you enter into the building."

"Anytime you have a project that tries to engage the city in that waythat draws people's attention."

With files from The Calgary Eyeopener

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