New public rooftop garden at Vancouver Public Library opens this month

Sep 15 2018, 3:28 am

After more than a year of construction, the new rooftop garden on the rooftop of the Central Branch of Vancouver Public Library (VPL) in downtown Vancouver is set to open at the end of this month.

VPL has announced that the massive new garden and library space expansion – built at a cost of $15.5 million – will be open to the public beginning at 10 am on Saturday, September 29. A grand opening ceremony attended by Mayor Gregor Robertson will mark the opening.

The top two floors were previously occupied by provincial government offices, and the vacancy has allowed the creation of 40,000-sq-ft of new indoor and outdoor publicly accessible spaces.

This includes two large outdoor terraces on the north and south, and an 8,000-sq-ft garden where visitors can read a book, work, or use as a quiet retreat.

There are also expansive new indoor library spaces within the eighth floor, such as a large quiet reading room, art and cultural exhibition spaces, and an auditorium with 80 fixed seats.

Such spaces provided the Central Branch with the additional capability to host programmed events, including lectures, workshops, learning events, and community events.

Upon opening, the two new levels will complete the original vision of the 400,000-sq-ft Library Square, designed by world-renowned Safdie Architects.

Model of the VPL’s rooftop expansion. (Vancouver Public Library / Daily Hive)

Artistic rendering of the VPL’s rooftop expansion. (Vancouver Public Library / Daily Hive)

Artistic rendering of the VPL’s rooftop expansion. (Vancouver Public Library / Daily Hive)

Artistic rendering of the VPL’s rooftop expansion. (Vancouver Public Library / Daily Hive)

Artistic rendering of the VPL’s rooftop expansion. (Vancouver Public Library / Daily Hive)

Artistic rendering of the VPL’s rooftop expansion. (Vancouver Public Library / Daily Hive)

Layout of the Vancouver Public Library’s rooftop expansion. (Vancouver Public Library / Daily Hive)

Layout of the Vancouver Public Library’s rooftop expansion. (Vancouver Public Library / Daily Hive)

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Kenneth ChanKenneth Chan

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