The Ontario Association of Architects celebrated this year’s World Architecture Day on Dec 10 with its fourth annual visit to Queen’s Park, hosting an exhibit and reception with Members of Provincial Parliament. Earlier this year, the OAA invited Ontario MPPs to reflect on the province’s architectural legacy—both old and new—and nominate their favourite building within their riding. Waterdown Public Library in Hamilton was selected as one of eight projects for the exhibit out of 40 submissions made by Ontario MPPs, representing areas from Windsor to Timmins to Ottawa.
Sitting atop the iconic Niagara Escarpment, the Waterdown Public Library takes a challenging site condition and transforms it into an opportunity for innovation and accessibility that takes its cue from its unique natural context. More than just a library, this community hub bringing together a wide variety of public services in collaboration with different agencies and reduces administrative duplication. In addition to the public library, the building houses the Flamborough Archives run by the Flamborough Heritage Society, a new Flamborough Seniors’ Recreation Centre, the Flamborough Information and Community Service and the Flamborough Municipal Service Centre.