Architects wanted: City sets preliminary timelines for Ottawa's new central library

Architects interested in building Ottawa's long-anticipated newcentral library,get those resums ready.

Anotice of planned procurement posted Friday on online tendersite MERXsets out the timelines for a "two-stage competitive process" to build the $168-million flagshipbranch on the eastern edge of LeBreton Flats.

According to the notice, the city is looking for a design teamthat's completed a project of "similar size, scope and complexity" to what's been proposed for the so-called "super library": a 216,000 square-foot facility that the Ottawa Public Library would share with Library and Archives Canada.

City council gave the go-aheadlast month to build the library on the municipally owned land at 557 Wellington St.after three years of studies, reports and consultations.

More than half of the library's space would go to the city branch.

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While the city is looking for a firm with serious credentials, the notice isn't requiring experience building either a library or an archive.

"Other relevant project experience could include buildings of national, provincial, institutional or civic importance such as cultural institutions, performing arts centres or museums," the notice says.

The city's preliminary schedule would see a request for qualifications issued in the second quarter of 2017, which would lead to ashort listof acceptable firms.

A request for proposals would follow in the third quarter of 2017.The "ideal team" would also be able to manage and conduct public consultations, the notice says.

Although the federal government hasn't approved the partnership yet, the plan has been for the library's groundbreaking to be held in mid-2018, construction to begin in 2020, and an opening date in 2022.

There have been arguments against the Wellington Street site, however, which is bounded by Albert and Commissioner streets and the Confederation Line, and is about 250 metres away from the future Pimisi LRT station.

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One of the majorcriticisms has been that the site is not close enough to wheredowntown residents currently live.

As well, some have argued that its impendinglocation below the Nanny Goat Hill escarpment could make it less accessible for people with mobility issues.

Don't give up hope, CEO urges

Ottawa Public Library CEO Danielle McDonald told CBC News Friday afternoon that the ability to consult with the public on the library's design would be a major factor in choosing the winning bid and urged people unhappy with the Wellington Street site not to give up hope.

"We want everybody to come to the space," McDonald said. "This is the location that has been selected, [but] I think there's still a lot of room in terms of how the site's going to evolve."

McDonald said she hoped the award-winning Halifax Central Library, which opened 2014, could provide inspiration for design teams in their submissions.

But she added thatelements of a successful 21st century library already exist in Ottawa on a smaller scale at Kanata'sBeaverbrook branch, which also underwent a major redesign between 2013 and 2014.

"That's won awards, not only for design but for sustainability," said McDonald. "It really is kind of our signature library, and where we want to go."