Edificio Igualdad
Size/ 14,500 m²
Cost/ € 33 million excl. VAT
Competition/ 2010, 1st prize in international competition
Status/ Construction period 2011-2014
Client/ Halifax Regional Municipality/ Halifax Public Libraries
Local architect/ Fowler, Bauld & Mitchell (prime consultant architect)
Landscape Architect/ Gordon Ratcliffe Landscape Architect
Engineer/ Structural: SNC Lavalin Inc., Ove Arup (Concept Design)/ Mechanical: CBCL Limited, Ove Arup (Concept Design)/ Electrical: CBCL Limited, Ove Arup (Concept Design)/ Civil: SNC Lavalin Inc.
Sustainability/ LEED Gold certification
Awards/ 2016, Governor General Medal in Architecture of Canada
The new Halifax Central Library is the most significant public building to be built in Halifax in a generation, and represents the diverse communities, talents, and creativity of the residents of Halifax throughout the municipality and present this to the world. The library building stands as a flagship for all 14 branch libraries servicing the whole municipality.The library is sited in a prominent position in downtown Halifax. The site itself is bound by the heritage neighborhood of Schmidtville, the historic Citadel Hill, Dalhousie University School of Architecture and the busiest shopping street east of Montreal, Spring Garden Road.