Vaughan Public Library
Vaughan, Ontario
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Branch Library: Express Kiosk, Workroom, Computer Lab, Teen Zone, Children's Zone, Music Studio, Community Kitchen
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2024 Association of Registered Interior Designers of Ontario (ARIDO) Award: Gather + Play Finalist (Vaughan Public Library)
The Vaughan Public Library (VPL) at the David Bradley Vaughan Metropolitan Centre of Community (VMC) reflects Vaughan’s vision for a vibrant, inclusive urban future. Part of a broader civic hub that includes a YMCA and City of Vaughan community programs, the library plays a central role in connecting diverse residents through culture, education, and community life.
Occupying 9,000-sf on the second floor of the podium below a commercial tower, the library faced the challenge of visibility and access. To ground its identity at street level, a 400-sf storefront was created at the main public lobby. This jewel-box-like space, infused with vibrant colour, lighting, and an immersive experience, draws people in from the streetscape — sparking curiosity and encouraging discovery. It serves as a self-service portal and dynamic arrival point, making the library’s presence visible, welcoming, and accessible to all.
Inspired by the energy of retail pop-up shops, the design anchors the library with a dynamic, ground-level storefront. A compact space at the building’s public lobby is transformed into an immersive ‘VPL shop’, where large, backlit arches frame curated displays. Visible from the urban plaza, these vibrant niches act as a beacon, inviting passersby to discover what lies beyond.
The illuminated arches extend visually to the second level, where light boxes — canted to evoke open books — continue the design language. At night, this continuity glows outward, reinforcing the library’s welcoming presence from the street.
