Last week, I was asked to participate in a panel for the National Capital Association of Law Libraries on the topic of library renovations. As some of you may know, the Library of Parliament has undergone significant renovations in the last few years, and will actually be moving out of Centre Block for the duration of their upcoming renovation work. Our renovation was nothing like the scale of their project, but we did have some similar experiences in renovating a library all the same.
As I was preparing for the panel, I put together some before and after shots of the library, and it was staggering to look at the pictures so closely side by side. Our renovation project is slowly creeping toward the finish line (we have some heating issues to resolve, and I’m sure we can agree that an Ottawa winter without proper heating wouldn’t be ideal!), and we still need to hang art work, but take a look at these four pictures from when you enter the library.
I’m struck by how narrow everything feels in the before photos. Many people remark on how huge the space feels when you walk in now, and it’s easy from these to see why!
Opening the walls and ceilings is magnificent and the globe lighting is outstanding, maybe heavenly! Great job CCLA! Your premises should be on a must see list for visitors to our National Capital, now on my list of places to see