Springdale Library & Komagata Maru Park / RDH Architects

In the City of Brampton, about 45 minutes west of Toronto, the Springdale Library and Komagata Maru Park provide the suburban community with a new public library and community park. RDHA’s goal was to create an inclusive gathering place, a counterpoint to the otherwise at a suburban area, and a point of pride for the city. The project site was physically constrained, framed by a commercial plaza to the east, a main road to the south, and a natural ravine to the north and west. The architects positioned the library as close to the street as possible, in order to solidify the building’s presence with the street, preserve the site’s natural topography and irrigation patterns, and channel interior views towards the ravine. This siting also maximized room in the rear for a neighborhood park and a parking and drop-off sequence with a canopied entry forecourt.