Hamilton Central Library

June 30, 2022 In Libraries

The first public library in the town of Hamilton, Ontario opened in 1890. In 1913, the library moved to a larger building designed by local architect Alfred W. Peene and financed by an Andrew Carnegie grant.

Exterior view of the former Hamilton Public library, a neoclassic building facing Main Street. The view is from across the street, pedestrians are seen crossing and sitting on the sidewalk. "Hamilton Public Library" is written on top of the facade.
The original Hamilton Carnegie Library designed by Alfred W. Peene is now a courthouse.

In 1980, the library moved again, this time to a late Brutalist structure a few blocks away. The concrete tower designed by another local architect, Anthony Butler, housed the library on the top floors, while the lower levels were occupied by the farmers market that had been operating on the location for over 150 years.

Exterior view of the current Hamilton Public Library at sunset. The Brutalist facade on top is bathed in warm light. At street level, a dark blue striped glass facade is from the recent renovation. "Hamilton Public Library" is written both on the original facade and on the new glass one. A pedestrian and a cyclist can be seen on front.
The new Hamilton Central Library on York Boulevard. Note the new glass wraparound facade that now connects the library to the street.

For the decades to come, the library and the market would share an address but their awkward proximity and the fact that the main library entrance was through a dark interior mall did not enable a close connection between the two.

Interior image of the main stairwell at Hamilton Public Library. The wide-angle shot shows bookshelves extending in front and right of the stairwell. A library employee is working on the bottom left of the image, wearing blue gloves.

The transformation brought by Tyler Sharp of RDH Architects working with David Premi Architects (dpAi) in 2008-2011 sought to reconnect the two spaces. The original structure was stripped to its skeleton of waffle slab floors and air ducts. Glass partitions, stairs and elevators connect the market stalls in the lower levels with the upstairs library spaces, both visually and functionally. The LED-lit exterior facade at street level further joins the market and library in a visually coherent space, while retaining the original volume in the the upper floors.

Interior view of the entrance area of the Hamilton Public Library. Patrons and employees are browsing shelves. A man is walking in front of the shelves from right to left. Ceilings are bright light-coloured concrete in waffle-slab formation. On the upper floor, a bloc is covered in blue tiles.
Waffle slabs and exposed duct work give the space an industrial aesthetic.

On the day of my visit, the warm sunlight bathing the main library stairwell and the many plants cascading down its walls perfectly offset the cold concrete finish to make the space inviting.

Interior view of the main stairwell of the Hamilton Public Library, at sunset. Light is seen illuminating the stairs and projecting shadows. Plants hang from the ceiling. The exterior facade with the words "Hamilton Public" can be seen through a window.
Plants and sunlight in the main stairwell warm up the bare concrete surfaces.

References

  1. Central Library. Hamilton Public Library
  2. Hagel, Caia (2011). Hamilton Farmers Market and Central Public Library. Architect Magazine. June 6, 2011
  3. The Hamilton Farmers’ Market and Central Public Library / RDH Architects + David Premi Architects, Archdaily, August 4, 2011
  4. Hamilton Public Library History. Hamilton Public Library (Archived Dec 18, 2017)
  5. Cardoso de Sousa, Wanessa (2021). Hamilton Public Library – Central Library, Canadian Library Architecture, February 15, 2021
  6. Hamilton Central Library and Farmers Market, RDH Architects



Content note

Library detail pages are primarily a place for me to collect information I gather on the libraries I visit, and are frequently updated. None of this should be considered authoritative, I am not an architect, nor a historian. If you notice something incorrect, please let me know!



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