Next stage of public consultation for Ottawa central library begins

Ottawa City Hall (Photo/Devyn Barrie)

The third phase of the Inspire555 series to engage the public and gather input on the new Ottawa Public Library (OPL) and Library and Archives Canada (LAC) joint facility is online now at Inspire555.ca.

In a short questionnaire on Public Art and Landscape, Canadians from coast to coast are invited to share their thoughts on the public art they would like to see at the new Ottawa Public Library (OPL) and Library and Archives Canada (LAC) joint facility, and how they would like to use the surrounding exterior spaces. Respondents will also have an opportunity to answer questions on sustainability features in the new facility.

This questionnaire will complement the input that will be gathered at two in-person workshops in Ottawa on August 21 and 22. During these workshops, hundreds of participants are expected to provide input that will serve as inspiration to the artists and designers selected to bring to life the joint facility’s public art and landscape designs.

The architects and joint facility partners firmly believe that public art and the facility’s surrounding landscape are vital to creating a sustainable world-class public destination in the nation’s capital.

The online questionnaire, available until August 27, 2019, can be found at Inspire555.ca or engage.ottawa.ca.

About the Inspire555 engagement series

The workshops and questionnaire are part of a year-long local and national engagement process to inspire the design of an iconic facility destined to become an attraction for all visitors to the Capital and a community gathering place. The Inspire555 engagement series includes design workshops, pop-up events, and online engagement activities to inspire this new landmark destination. In Phase 1, the architects heard the public’s thoughts on how to build and connect a landmark destination. In Phase 2, the public gave input on how the spaces and relationships should be organized inside the facility. Phase 3 is focused on public art and landscaping. Phase 4 public and online engagement will take place later this fall. Details on the themes for this workshop will be available in the coming months.

Additional meetings, design workshops and knowledge sharing events are planned with Algonquin First Nations communities, and with local urban and national Indigenous organizations.

About the new Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada joint facility

Set to open in 2024, the joint facility will become a landmark destination built on the shared values of the partner institutions. The facility will deliver a rich customer experience through the Ottawa Public Library’s Central Library and Library and Archives Canada’s public services, exhibitions and events, which showcase Canada’s heritage. The joint programming and services will make this a truly unique offering in Canada. It will be a modern, iconic facility that will respond to rapidly developing technology, growing customer expectations and changing demographics.

For more information on the Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada joint facility, and the Inspire555 Series, please visit Inspire555.ca.