Wellington County Public Library Hillsburgh Branch
This public library is located on a historical property containing a Century Home as well as a large pond and ancient trees.
This development provides state of the art library services while demonstrating lessons in natural and community history.
The new facility brings all the amenities associated with a modern library to this rural locale while maintaining the historical significance of the property.
The design incorporates the existing historical homestead by enveloping it within the new construction, positioned in such a way as to feature the existing home within the street views.
The use of mobile shelving serves to provide a space which can be arranged for larger functions either library-related or library adjacent.
LOCATION
Hillsburgh, Ontario
COMPLETED
2018
SIZE
10,000 ft²
SERVICES
Retrofit
Wellington County Public Library Fergus Branch
+VG Architects were awarded this commission in 2012, following an intensive design competition.
The County expressed interest in achieving multiple parameters, which were addressed by the winning design:
- Integration of the Library addition with the adjacent Grand River gorge and waterfront and with the busy, historic downtown streetscape as well “Windows and Vision”
- A gathering place for people to congregate and develop a sense of community. Long term plans for the Township of Centre Wellington will make this area a Riverfront Walkway, with gardens and places to stop, read, enjoy the views, or socialize. This new Library project will be the catalyst to begin this process.
- An opportunity to incorporate a multi-purpose space bringing the outside in and the inside out. Open space and garden area that can accommodate public readings, concerts, public gatherings, etc. with a view and access to the river/gorge.
- Re-designed parking to be incorporated as part of the building design.
- Incorporate and respect the natural surroundings. Tucked directly behind the Library, Templin Gardens is one of best places in Fergus and a major community attraction. The site offers visitors a quiet and relaxing setting where they can truly appreciate nature’s beauty. In addition to many flowers, the gardens contain a fishpond, rock garden, and steps leading to a balcony overlooking the Grand River.
LOCATION
Fergus, Ontario
COMPLETED
2014
SIZE
15,000 ft²
Norfolk County Public Library
The building is owned by Grand Erie District School Board which has applied an innovative multi-use concept to create a valuable community resource from existing surplus space.
The sleek design of the new branch works “with the grain” of a former High School which has been adapted to new use, serving the Library, a new elementary school, and various public sector agencies. The whimsical design of the new front entrance way is comprised of translucent glass with coloured film on the inside. The split-level layout is designed for efficiency. The open concept allows the new Library to be operated with minimal staff. Spaces include bright reading and study areas and an inviting children’s room. Seminar rooms are available for public rental, which helps generate revenue for the County.
The expansion includes new activity and educational program areas, public washrooms, relocated Research Room and Archival Storage, multi-purpose space, storage space in the basement, and a new one storey gallery addition. +VG provided full architectural services.
LOCATION
Port Dover, Ontario
COMPLETED
2014
SIZE
8,700 ft²
SERVICES
Expansion
Woodlands Multi-Use Public Library
The new Woodlands Public Library is an exceptional resource, fostering learning while encouraging exploration and collaboration within the community.
The Library, while being owned and operated by the City of Mississauga, will be jointly used by the residents of the Erindale District of Mississauga and the adjacent Woodlands Secondary School. Cooperation between the City and the School Board resulted in completely upgraded vehicular access, as well as student and community-use park areas surrounding the building.
The +VG design draws its reference from the open pages of a book, intended to open itself to the outside and engage discourse within the community. Inside, the entire building can be seen upon entering. Patrons are greeted with new multi-media centres, quiet study rooms and resources centres, while a fireplace at the heart of the building provides a relaxed and contemplative environment for casual reading.
LOCATION
Mississauga, Ontario
COMPLETED
2014
SIZE
8,000 ft²
SERVICES
New Construction
PRESS
Woodlands Library set to turn a new page
Mississauga News
Jordan Historical Museum
In 2015, +VG was retained to conduct the Master Plan update for the Jordan Historical Museum. A Plan has been drafted for a new facility which will bring the museum into the 21st Century.
The design shows a modern museum composed of a combination of wood, glass and stone. The new facility will have a full basement and community space and will look out onto Twenty Valley. The overall vision for the site is to create a cultural gateway for the town. The shape and layout of the new museum will make the museum’s “walk-in artifacts” more prominent upon arrival.
The road to a new facility has been a long one for the museum, which was started by a group of volunteers in 1953. “It’s been a dream since the museum started,” said Director Helen Booth, noting the old home housing the museum has been a challenge. “The museum has always needed a home. We’ve gone from pillar to post over the years.”
One of the biggest challenges of the space is its inability to house the museum collection. Artifacts have to be stored off-site at Town Hall for proper preservation. “Everything will be coming home,” said Booth, noting the collection will be set up in a way that makes it visible to museum visitors. Another key feature of the new design is a proposed amphitheatre, which will enable the museum to expand its programming by way of music and performing arts.
LOCATION
Lincoln, Ontario
CLIENT
Jordan Historical Museum
COMPLETED
2018
SIZE
9,600 ft²
SERVICES
Master Plan Update for Addition
Kingston Pump House Steam Museum
The Kingston Pump House Museum is a demonstration of the original waterworks that served the City of Kingston in the 19th Century.
The Pump House is located in one of Canada’s oldest original water works – where steam-powered pumps provided the first running water to Kingston residents from 1851. Only six similar preserved water pumping stations remain in North America. The assignment involved an addition to house workshops, arrival and orientation space for school groups, new accessible washrooms and office areas, as well as renovations to the existing historic building.
During excavation underground structures were discovered that were not identified in sub-surface investigations at early stages of the project. Removal of the structures and replacement with engineered backfill would have resulted in a large extra. To mitigate this, change our team mobilized on site within a few days and facilitated a meeting with between the civil contractor, the general contractor and the structural engineer to revise the footing system to avoid subsurface obstructions. By quickly addressing the issue we avoided schedule slippage.
Delay was incurred on this project due to the glazier installing curtain wall that did not match the shop drawings and specifications. Our team worked with the product manufacturers to ensure the delivered installation would still meet specified performance standards. In order to mitigate a 90-day extension to the construction schedule we instead negotiated a significant credit and applied aftermarket films to achieve the desired design. The museum was able to open on time and the overall budget was reduced.
LOCATION
Kingston, Ontario
COMPLETED
2017
SIZE
9,200 ft²
SERVICES
Renovation & Addition
PHOTOGRAPHY
David Bell
PRESS
An Inside Job: Kingston Pump House Steam Museum
Canadian Interiors
+VG unveils a contextually attuned transformation of Kingston’s historic waterworks
Building Magazine
Fort Henry Discovery Centre
Located in Kingston, and part of the St. Lawrence River tourist corridor, Fort Henry provides a living example of garrison life within the period before and after Confederation.
In 2007, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) classified the Rideau Canal and all area fortifications and surrounding land- scapes as a World Heritage Site. To augment the new World Heritage classification, a new Visitors Interpretive Centre was proposed to further develop the attraction for an immersive tourist experience. New programs have been designed to increase revenues for the site, and to prepare for an increase in attendance by the local community and tourists.
Careful consideration was taken to design this attraction on a historic site at the entrance to the Rideau Canal system.
The project included a new multi-purpose space and event venue, outdoor patios, an 1,850 ft² gift shop for museum souvenirs, a 800 ft² snackbar, and public wash- rooms.
LOCATION
Kingston, Ontario
COMPLETED
December 2012
SIZE
10,000 ft²
SERVICES
New Construction on a UNESCO World Heritage Site
AWARDS
2014 CAHP Awards
New Building on a Historic Site
Markham Museum Collections Building
The Markham Museum Collections building is an expansion on to the existing Visitor’s Centre and forms the “Gateway” to the Markham Museum Pioneer Village.
The architectural design is a modern interpretation of the industrial and agricultural heritage for the Town. The initial design stage was to create a Master Plan for the entire site and Facility Program (with EDA), including the long term development of the Pioneer Village which is programmed with a variety of community, family, and school programming year round.
The new building was built using prefabricated steel structures for maximum area with minimum cost. The final result is reminiscent of a 19th Century barn. The new Markham Museum houses a substantially enlarged collection, previously in storage, and forms the anchor for the surrounding municipal heritage park. Features of the Collections Building include permanent and rotating collection spaces, restoration studios, administrative spaces and food service amenities.
As part of the City’s overall Green Building Initiative, the Collections Building was to achieve a minimum level of LEED® Silver Certification. The project was awarded LEED® Gold in March 2014.
The Master Plan for the park was developed at the beginning of the project to enhance educational programming, determine the location for the Collections Building, and develop long-term goals for the site. The new building accommodates covered outdoor activity space for students and other visitors.
LOCATION
Markham, Ontario
COMPLETED
2010
SIZE
16,000 ft²
SERVICES
Renovation & Addition
