Library Architectural and Design Transformation Award

This award is given for additions, renovations, restorations, conversion to library use, and interior redesign and refurnishing. The following years will have a call for this award category: 2018, 2021, 2024, 2027, 2030

Purpose

To encourage and showcase excellence in the design of library renovations and transformations.

Criteria/Eligibility

Project submissions are judged on their own against the following criteria and are not judged in relation to other submissions. All entries should be submitted with the consent of the architect and the owner. The program is open to all types of libraries, or combination thereof: · Academic libraries (community college, college, university) · School libraries (elementary, secondary) · Public libraries (municipal, branch, county, regional, system) · Institutional and private firm libraries (must permit public access) In addition: · The building project must be located in Ontario. · The building project must be completed and fully occupied and in use within July of the previous Library and Architectural Design Transformation year. · Building projects submitted for the previous competition are not eligible for re submission. · Any project involving an OLA Library Building Awards jury member as architect, associate architect, consultant, or client is ineligible.

Description and Categories

Submissions are to include a statement about the intent of the program and design achievement. For example: · Program Intent: What is the vision for this space? · What function and purpose did the project fulfil? · What challenge was solved in this design? In addition to design achievement, submissions are to include how the project may be exemplary in any or all of the following subcategories: · Societal advancement: Demonstrating a commitment to community development or the intent and impact of a project that includes a partnership. · Technical advancement: Exploring new technologies and their architectural applications. · Environmental advancement: Demonstrating a commitment to environmentally sensitive design and conservation. · Preservation/restoration: Demonstrating skill, contextual sensitivity, and thoughtfulness in preservation, restoration, or the alternative use of existing buildings regardless of their original architectural intentions.

Submission Procedure

All material shall be submitted electronically. Submissions will be solicited from March to May of each award year. All submissions must include: 1. One (1) electronic submission (see requirements below) sent by email as a PDF submission to: awards@accessola.com 2. Entry fee, which must be received at the OLA Office by June 5 of each award year. Payment can be submitted online by logging into your OLA Account. Invoices will be generated once a submission has been submitted. Submissions Requirements: • Contact Information • Table of contents A statement about the intent of the program and design achievement. (300 word maximum) • A design statement by the Architect. (300-word maximum). • How the project is exemplary in any or all of the following (expanded descriptions above) (500-word maximum): o Societal advancement. o Technical advancement. o Environmental advancement. o Preservation/restoration. • Photographs. (Requirements noted below). • All plans and drawings. (Requirements noted below). • Cost data: Percent of the library-specific budget committed to the project and cost per square foot/total capital cost of the project. o A detailed budget is not necessary as it is used as a measure of project size only. Information about funding sources such as percentage of grants/municipal funds/donations may be included. All entries become the property of the Ontario Library Association. • Entrants are responsible for any royalties, copyright, or photographic fees. • Drawings, photographs and slides of each winning entry will be used in digital and print content published by the OLA or OAA; credit lines and copyright notices, if any, will be used and need to be supplied as part of the submission. • There will be no communication with those who submit winning projects to verify the facts as outlined in the submission. Please be certain the information is accurate for subsequent publicity purposes.

Photographs

Please submit photos and images in .PDF format. For all projects, please include the following images that apply to your project and label accordingly: · Interior view of the library from the entrance area. · Interior view showing a major public services function, circulation, reference, etc. · Interior view showing a typical user area. · Interior view of two public spaces, using existing lighting only, no “photographic” lighting. Include an interior view at night if the library is open after dark. · Interior view showing a staff function in a non-public area. · Any additional views explaining special architectural features. o A limit of 5 extra photographs will be accepted. For new buildings, additions, exterior renovations, or other exterior changes, add the following photographs: · Long-shot exterior view of the building showing its relationship to adjacent structures, setting, and environment, where applicable. · Exterior views showing all the principal facades of the building including views of the exterior entrance. · For renovations, at least one photograph before renovation. · For additions, a detailed photograph and the connections to the original building or space. Photographs may either be in black and white or in colour. It is emphasized that the objective is to evaluate the project, not to reward a photographer’s skill in concentrating on photographic composition. If your submission is chosen, additional high-resolution photos may be requested to use in promotional materials.

Plans and Drawings

All plans and drawings shall include: · Site plan. · Floor plan clearly showing library functions and detailed furniture and equipment layouts. · Indication of accommodation for current and future technology. · Representation of each floor except for identical floors, which may be illustrated by a typical floor plan. · Plans for all building sections. Please label all plans and sections clearly. Jury The Ontario Library Association and the Ontario Association of Architects appoint the jury. It is composed of: • Architects • Library professionals • A representative of an architectural school or program, if possible Submissions are based on their own merits and against the criteria. The jury will be asked to make its award determination based on its assessment of the materials submitted.

Entry fee

An entry fee of $70 + tax for each project entered must be paid by the submission deadline. Entry fees can be paid online through the OLA Account portal. Invoices will be generated once a submission is submitted to awards@accessola.com Entry fees will not be refunded for entries that do not materialize.

Award Presentation

The entrant should bear in mind that the project will not be judged in competition with other entries. It will be judged on the basis of the solution to the problem presented and its worthiness for an Award of Excellence in Library Architecture and Planning. An Award of Excellence for Library Architecture shall be given to such entries as the jury deems deserving. An award plaque will be presented to the lead architect and the library system/organization, and a certificate of recognition will be presented to additional partners. These recognitions will be awarded during the Annual Institute on the Library as Place (AILP) event (virtual or in-person). Award recipients will have the opportunity, if available, to also present a short (Pecha Kucha style) presentation. Award recipient projects will receive two complimentary registrations to the event.

Exhibition and Promotion

All entries will be asked to prepare one slide deck to be displayed at the AILP event and during the subsequent OLA Annual Super Conference. In addition, the Ontario Library Association will issue a media release announcing recipients, share on social media, post to the OLA website and share with the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) for further promotion.