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The New Library

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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

The New Library Council approves funding plan for new Central Library

Fowler Bauld & Mitchell approved as architect

Posted by Tim Bousquet on Wed, Mar 31, 2010 at 6:44 PM

Halifax council Tuesday afternoon approved a financing scheme for construction of the new $55 million Central Library project and then Tuesday evening awarded the architectural contract for the building to Fowler Bauld & Mitchell, a local firm.

The financing side was remarkably uncontroversial, in part because, as councillor Sue Uteck noted, just $4.5 million in new city money had to be identified. Federal and economic stimulus funding are bringing, respectively, $18.3 million and $13 million to the project. The balance will come from the proceeds of the sale of two city-owned parking lots on Clyde Street, and money allocated to the library in past years.

Councillor Gloria McCluskey, who has in the past expressed irritation that the library is to be built on the peninsula rather than in Dartmouth, was the lone vote against the financing plan; Tuesday she based her objection on the inclusion of an auditorium and cafe in the library plan.

The architectural contract initially raised eyebrows because, of the four finalists for the job, Fowler Bauld & Mitchell submitted the highest bid---$4.3 million, compared to a low bid of $2.9 million. But the price tag part of the bids accounted for only 20 percent of the city's scoring system, and Fowler Bauld & Mitchell scored highest on the other 80 percent, and especially well with its plan for involving the public in the planning process. After staff walked councillors through the various considerations, council gave unanimous consent to the contract.

There are now no potential political or financial roadblocks to library construction. The project is to be completed by 2014.

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Friday, November 20, 2009

The New Library How do we get a good library design?

Evaluating Brian MacKay-Lyons charge that the city is screwing up the selection process for the new Halifax library

Posted by Tim Bousquet on Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 12:20 PM

Is the new Halifax library going to be an interesting and compelling addition to the city fabric, or will it be a designed-by-committee dud? And how, exactly, to you get a good public building?

Those questions came front and centre when architect Brian MacKay-Lyons went on CBC’s Information Morning to blast the city’s selection process for an architect for the library. He was followed on subsequent shows by Phil Townsend, HRM’s director of infrastructure and asset management, by Paul Frank of JDA Architects, a firm still in the running for the library contract, and by myself.

I have also independently interviewed MacKay-Lyons and Townsend, as well as other city staffers who were on the selection committee and otherwise involved in the process. I’ve also reviewed the documents (linked to, below) and looked at a number of buildings in Halifax built by various architecture firms under consideration.

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Thursday, November 19, 2009

The New Library How to get the best library design?

Posted by Tim Bousquet on Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 7:43 AM

In today's paper I mention that I'll have a longer post about the library design in this space. That post is in the works, and will be up this afternoon. Please come back.