A Vibrant New Chapter for Library Design
Vaughan Public Library is a key component of the David Bradley Vaughan Metropolitan Centre of Community, which also houses a YMCA and community programs. Located in a developing area, the centre aims to unite diverse communities through cultural, socioeconomic, and educational initiatives.
The Vaughan Public Library branch is located on the second floor of the tower, serving the growing downtown Vaughan community. To overcome the challenge of its second-floor location and to create a welcoming presence, VPL developed a self-service storefront, VMC Express, at the main public lobby entrance, that acts as a visible, welcoming, and accessible entry point that connects the library to the urban streetscape and the larger interior lobby. The eye-catching design of VMC Express invites community members, including those with literacy challenges, to engage confidently with the library’s services.
Interior Designer: Tarisha Dolyniuk, ARIDO
Design Firm: MJMA Architecture & Design
Photographer: Scott Norsworthy
The VMC Express was conceived with the vibrant nature of pop-up shops in mind, designed to attract people closer and create a memorable arrival experience. The ‘Express’ concept considers how people engage in a bookstore or library, where books on shelves entice from afar with their colours, textures, and designs, inviting closer inspection and exploration. This inspired the form, scale, and colour of the large backlit arches lining the storefront area. These arches not only create niches to hold library collections, quick picks, and supplementary objects but also serve as a vibrant, bright focal point.
The arches are visible from the urban plaza and interior lobby, and once engaged in the space, create an immersive experience of colour and excitement. It also gives the library a distinct neighborhood identity that seamlessly connects to the surrounding urban environment. The presence of a library in a community fosters accessibility and community pride. The colours used align with the library’s branding, reinforcing its identity.
By aligning with the cultural and social fabric of the neighborhood, the library becomes an inclusive gathering place that reflects and serves the diverse needs and interests of its community members. The coloured and illuminated framing of the collection engages passersby and energizes the streetscape.
To enhance Inclusion, social cohesion and refuge with our design solution we designed a library with enhanced wayfinding and intuitive use. This creates a sense of comfort for everyone, and incorporates intimate spaces that offer choices to foster a sense of belonging, making the library a home away from home-away-from-home for all.
Among the various programs at the community centre, the library offers unique digital and literacy initiatives. By designing the space as a hub within a hub, the library can also leverage other centre programs, such as the community kitchen, to enhance its offerings and strengthen its connection to collections.
The highly visible and attractive VMC Express storefront location created a new service model that is a great addition of an urban type of library service and a first for Vaughan Public Library.
