After 5 years of work, it was on March 23rd that the inauguration of the new Webster Library of Concordia University located in Rosemont-La-Petite-Patrie, borough of the city of Montreal.
Designed and built by Menkès Shooner Dagenais LeTourneux Architectes, this major expansion and renovation project aimed to create a campus landmark, a central location that boldly integrates digital technologies and anticipates the changes inherent in the coming years. generations of libraries. The main challenges involved the redeployment and optimization of existing spaces with a view to increasing the seating capacity from 1,500 to 3,300 spaces, the redefinition of service areas (counters, offices, consultation) and use spaces (reading area , collaborative work), maximizing book shelving and enhancing the digital collection.

The conceptual approach developed by the architects allowed a clear strategy regarding the organization of the collections and the routes of the users. Playing on the theme of anamorphosis, the project proposes a complex network of lines and solid colors that challenges the user on what he perceives and that suggests that knowledge and knowledge are built from an individual point of view. The new library is a reflection of evolving knowledge and active learning as a new way of sharing knowledge.

Thus, the pavilion housing the library is polychromatic, marked by the use of multiple frames of colors. The main tones consist of black (shelving spaces) and white (individual workspaces) and operate a fracture clearly marking the places. A skilful variation of secondary colors indicates the transition between the four floors of the project.

Strategically located at the edge of the stairs, the loan counter and the "Ask Us" reference zone indicate their presence as their first point of service. Further, the zones without noise, half-voices, working in solo and in collaboration are arranged so as to modulate levels of silence according to the places.

The programmatic elements (loan, information counter, etc.) are small volumes of wood, sometimes covered with metal folds, sometimes connected by a white and triangulated ceiling element. Designed to meet the needs of everyone, each area of ​​the Webster Library benefits from improved visibility while affirming its own identity.

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