Western University, Weldon Library Revitalization
A Brutalist Icon Transformed into a 21st Century Academic Library Originally designed by John Andrews in 1967, the D.B. Weldon Library has been Western University’s central library and the heart of scholarship on campus for more than 50 years. Prior to renovation, however, the Brutalist style building reflected an outdated vision of academic libraries. The library was designed as a repository for print collections, with limited study space, low access to daylight and fresh air, and a shortage of programs and spaces that support 21st century learning. In 2018, Western University collaborated with our team to reimagine Weldon as a modern academic library—a place to support a diverse range of activities, collections, and users—and enable innovative, interdisciplinary scholarship. The first phase of Weldon’s transformation celebrates its original architecture, introduces a variety of dynamic learning environments, prioritizes the health and well-being of users, promotes exploration and discovery, and drastically improves operations and building performance.
Client
Western University
Size
90,000 square feet
Completion
2022-02-11
Sustainability
The design offers a wide variety of study environments, inviting students to choose the space, furniture, and ambience best-suited to their needs.
Student Experience
The design provides a new dynamic and daylit learning commons by reconnecting the Great Hall to the previously enclosed mezzanine. New spaces for studying, socializing, and connecting with the community, enriched by integrated exhibition and display, support 21st century learning. New flooring, sculptural lighting, textural millwork, and varied furnishings enhance the building’s Brutalist character while making the space lighter, brighter, more adaptable, and inviting. Upgraded mechanical systems increase air quality and comfort while reducing energy use by 30%. Renovated spaces enjoy ubiquitous power and data, painstakingly coordinated to preserve the building’s Brutalist expression.
Collections are densified with a new high-density storage zone in the basement, freeing up floor area for new spaces that support studying, learning, and research.
A Master Plan for a Mid-Century Modern Renewal
The revitalization is both the first phase of renovating D.W. Weldon Library and the culmination of a longer process that began in 2015 with the development of Western University’s Library Space Master Plan, authored by the same design team. In addition to developing a plan for the institution’s library system as a whole, the master plan set the framework for the revitalization of Weldon Library. This included identifying operational considerations, program opportunities, and key goals for the transformation work that followed. The design enhances and elevates the underlying architecture by celebrating the power of Andrews’ original design while elegantly accommodating current and future needs.
Weldon Library’s redesign centers inclusivity, shaped by diverse voices, creating accessible, welcoming spaces that naturally support every student’s comfort and belonging.
Sustainability
Weldon’s revitalization eliminates millions of tons of carbon emissions associated with demolition and new construction. The strategic design, tailored for its next 50 years of service, incorporates key sustainability measures such as a Deep Energy Retrofit, lowering energy usage by over 30%. The building’s core features a new service spine for future adaptability, while high-efficiency plumbing fixtures reduce water consumption by over 40%. Energy-efficient LED lighting, glazing upgrades, and a focus on maximizing natural light also contribute to reduced energy consumption. The redesign establishes a connection to the environment, with material choices highlighting elements found in the natural world. FSC-certified wood products ensure sustainable sourcing, while a new interior planting program promotes biophilia. The furniture program accommodates diverse needs, and careful attention to acoustics enhances comfort and support for neurodiverse students in study and workspaces.
“The light is so perfect, bright yet calming... Instead of 'dark, depressing, and dated' we are sure to hear 'bright, inspirational, and modern.'”
― CATHERINE STEEVES
VICE-PROVOST AND CHIEF LIBRARIAN, WESTERN UNIVERSITY