Kitchener Public Library’s Southwest Community Library, Kitchener, ON

This proposed $10.1 M net-zero community library (thought to be the first in Canada) is a vibrant community hub for the adjacent growing and diverse neighbourhood, adjacent to a future school, community centre, and multi-use trails. The design features geothermal energy, solar panels, community gardens, green roofs, bioswales / rain gardens, and a bioretention entry plaza area with soil cells for tree plantings. Indigenous placekeeping designs include Traditional medicine gardens, a Grandparent Stones garden (circular stone seat wall / planter with 4 granite erratic boulders placed in the direction of the 4 sacred directions, and a rain chain from the canopy above leading to a planting of ferns). SpruceLab Inc. led Indigenous, community, and stakeholder engagement, as well as the landscape design. Outreach included information sent to Six Nations of the Grand River (SNGR) as well as Mississauagas of the Credit First Nation (MCFN), which was followed by design workshops with SNGR and correspondence with MCFN. Information shared with the design team was incorporated into the project design, including the design of a central gathering space with a large overhead purple circular light inspired by the importance of this colour to SNGR, and the colour of wampum belt beads. The resulting ‘learning landscape’ accommodates reading, Indigenous ceremony and gatherings, and group and classroom activities. The inclusion of food forest species and raised wooden community gardens offer educational opportunities for programs tied to the indoor kitchen. Community spaces support various learning and outdoor educational programs. The design encourages people to connect to nature and creates spaces for Indigenous Peoples that also help improve Indigenous awareness. This biodiverse project is also intended to demonstrate aspects of regenerative design that will inspire replication across private lands.  

See Kitchener Public Library’s website about this project here, and read about the community Grand Opening event with Six Nations of the Grand river involvement here.