Video: Four Firms Named as Finalists to Design Calgary’s New Central Library

From GlobalNews.ca:

[Calgary Public Library] officials announced on Friday they had chosen four finalists who will compete for the honour of designing the building.
The design teams will have to draft a proposal for the 280,000 square foot space and submit it by September.
The finalists include: Danish firm 3XN, Toronto’s KPMB, REX from New York and Norway’s Snohetta.

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See Also: More Details from the Calgary Public Library

From 38 submissions that arrived in East Village from as far away as Copenhagen and Tokyo, a selection committee has narrowed to four, the field of contenders eager to design the new Central Library in East Village.
The four shortlisted teams will have until September 4, 2013, to submit their proposals and the Selection Committee will unveil the successful Prime Design Consultant in October. Following the announcement of the successful proponent, the public will be re-engaged to witness how the design components of the new central library program align with the described community needs and uses.
Construction is expected to begin in summer 2015, and the new Central Library is anticipated to open by 2018.
Providing approximately 286,000 sq ft of usable library space – 54% more than the existing downtown library – the new Central Library will be a multi-faceted public destination and gathering place with a physical collection of approximately 600,000 books, special programs and spaces for children and teens, a technology commons and laboratory for innovation, a centre that supports inclusive community integration and advancement through skills development, and much more.

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