City of parramatta council library
PROJECT NAME
City of Parramatta Library
LOCATION
5 Parramatta Square,
Parramatta, NSW
PROJECT TYPE
New build
LIBRARY TYPE
Public Library (PHIVE budget, library included)
PROJECT BUDGET
$137 Million
COMPLETED
2022
The new library building is imaginative architecture – iconic, recognisable, and flexible in its design. The building was designed with sustainability, accessibility, and inclusiveness at its core.
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The new library building is imaginative architecture – iconic, recognisable, and flexible in its design. The building was designed with sustainability, accessibility, and inclusiveness at its core. With a vibrant red and orange tessellated roof inspired by local flora, the roof’s triangular shape is sculptured to follow the course of the winter sun thereby minimising overshadowing of Parramatta Square. The roof design translates seamlessly to the interiors with white triangulated ceilings of perforated aluminium, reflecting the red hues of the façade.
The design drivers for the new library were:
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- Activate and integrate with the public domain.
- An iconic landmark associated with Parramatta, its people, and the place.
- A publicly accessible building that facilitates social connection, lifelong learning, and cultural exchange.
- A flexible building that can adapt to change over time.
- A building that uses less water, energy, and materials to do more.
- A building that is configured with consideration for the movement of goods, materials, and people.
The library has been designed for maximum flexibility allowing it to adapt to future use and evolving roles. Open lounge and study areas face the public square, behind are the collections, and closest to the circulation core are meeting rooms and services. All central shelving is on wheels allowing it to be moved into new configurations or moved out to make space for other library activities. Flexibility and connectivity are core outcomes in the relationship of the interior spaces. Technology built into the furniture allows flexible work and study to occur anywhere within the library. Exhibition and cultural experiences are installed across multiple levels within the library, capitalising on the flexible, multifunctional nature of the building to provide users with the opportunity to engage and interact with cultural heritage displays, exhibitions and other experiences.
Design principles were established through various community engagement activities, including a Citizen’s Jury, comprising a randomly selected group of 33 people, demographically representative of the census profile of the city. The jury recommended that the building should be:
• A centre which encourages connection and interaction between community and visitors and promotes knowledge, creativity, diversity, and democracy.
• Sensitive and beneficial to the community and the environment.
• Affordable and efficient both in design and operation.
• Flexible, to accommodate a variety of people’s different needs, changing demographics and to create and maintain a dynamic, interesting space.
• Engaging, welcoming, multi-purpose, and non-exclusive.
• Accessible to all, without barriers to participation.
• Engaging the past, present and future cultural landscapes of Parramatta, especially regarding Indigenous culture and multiculturalism.
Community engagement workshops were also undertaken in October 2020 at the 50% design stage to inform the client functional design brief and test design concepts for the library and the programming spaces within PHIVE. A second round of community engagement was undertaken in mid-2021 to seek feedback on spatial design and spatial allocations across the building as well as seeking community input on future programming ideas. Engagement with key stakeholders was conducted throughout the life of the project linked to key project milestones. Key stakeholders were identified as community (future users); community advisory committees (access and inclusion; heritage and First Nations); industry partners; Parramatta Alliance members; Councillors; and Council staff.
The following groups were also consulted:
• National Trust.
• Darug Reference Panel.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee.
Supporting resources
Development Application
Design Plans
Website
Library details
Organisation/Council/Shire Name
City of Parramatta Council
Type of Build
New build
Architect/Designer
Manuelle Gautrand, (Design inc., and Lacoste Stevenson, via Competition)
Floor Space
2,865 sqm
Project Budget
$6 million
Principal Contractor/builder
Built
Energy Rating
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Carpet & Flooring Finishings
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Shelving
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Signage
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Fixed/Loose Joinery
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Lighting
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RFID Technology
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AV Equipment
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Awards & Recognition
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