Owner: Town of LaSalle / Tenant: Essex County Public Library
Location: LaSalle, Ontario
Size: 9,000 sf

At LaSalle, a master planning effort was undertaken to determine how the development of municipal services and facilities should be organized. The final overall master plan included a new library integrated into the new administrative building.

The library offers an outdoor program space for users to enjoy shaded exterior activities, fun, learning or study.  The building’s atrium has been designed to promote informal seating for reading and has conversation areas situated on the second floor balcony / bridge which are adjacent to the bio-filter living wall.  This “treehouse” effect was inspired by the Carolinian Forests which make up part of LaSalle’s natural beauty – a quality and character that the town wished to incorporate. The site will be fully re-developed complete with a fountain water feature with sunken plaza, a large paved area for outdoor festivals and events, a relocated cenotaph and gardens with passive seating.  Technology and stacks are seamlessly integrated through the design of clever millwork mounts with house iPads as information kiosks.

The roof is constructed of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) which acts as structural system, ceiling finish and acoustic attenuator – all at once.  It is the first use of CLT in Southwestern Ontario.