The City of Ottawa, Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada are inviting the public to inspire the design of the new Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada joint facility.
The Ottawa Public Library and Archives Ottawa are seeking public input on the creation of a new joint facility. Image via Google Maps.

The national engagement process for the architectural design of the facility has been labeled the ?Inspire555 Series,? in a nod to its address. 555 Albert Street is at the western edge of downtown Ottawa, five blocks from Parliament, and on the new LRT line at Pimisi Station. The Inspire555 Series includes design workshops, pop-up events, expert lectures, online activities and engagement (local and national), and knowledge sharing with Indigenous communities ? all planned for 2019. The first in-person design workshops on Building Blocks are set for later this month (details below). Diamond Schmitt Architects and Ottawa?s KWC Architects have been retained to design the joint facility. At the first design workshop, the public will hear world-renowned architect Don Schmitt explain why this is one of the most exciting sites he has ever worked with.
Diamond Schmitt to design Ottawa’s new central library and archives

Workshop participants will be asked to provide feedback on preliminary concepts and to share hands-on ideas for how the new joint facility could take shape on the site. The public will have the opportunity to view preliminary ou...