Hagersville library + active living centre
hagersville, Ontario
Client
Haldimand County
CGS Architects was retained by Haldimand County to undertake a feasibility study for a new Library and Active Living Centre in Hagersville, Ontario, a small community of approximately 2,815 people. The new 1180m2 (12,750 ft2) facility is located within the existing Grant Kett Park. Currently the park includes 3 baseball diamonds, a play structure, a picnic pavilion, and Hagersville Memoral Arena. All existing amenities are intended to remain with the exception of the picnic pavilion which will be replaced and integrated into the new facility. In addition to the new Library and Active Living Centre, the redevelopment includes a new 540 m2 (5,815 ft2) Farmers’ Market pavilion. This further consolidates community uses within the park, creating a strong sense of place and community gathering within Hagersville where the amenities serve a wide range of residents, community groups and organizations.
The new facility is located at the centre of the park between the existing baseball diamonds. Site access is provided by a new driveway entrance adjacent to the new parking and Farmers’ Market area. The siting of the building takes advantage of unique topography with views over the east baseball diamond to the quarry and lake beyond. This view is not only scenic, but connects the facility to an important industry within the community. After-hours washrooms that are accessed from the exterior of the building serve playground and baseball diamond users.
The building is divided into two main programmatic components: a Library and an Active Living Centre. The Active Living Centre includes tables and seating for approximately 288 people and is supported by a commercial kitchen / servery and storage. Both components share a Lobby and Service spaces such as washrooms and a Mechanical / Electrical / IT Room.