Langara College’s three storey library and classroom building provides 80,000 square feet of additional academic space to its Vancouver campus. The building includes a three-floor library, seven spacious classrooms, four computer labs, multiple study areas and workstations, meeting spaces, a food service area and a three-level underground parkade, providing 449 parking stalls and 20 bicycle stalls. Total project cost was $39 million.
This architecturally unique structure involves high cathedral hallways, cantilevered stairs, upper floors cantilevered out over the lower floors, and a warped concrete roof (96m long x 33m wide) that assists in the natural ventilation of the building. A new forecourt with a reflecting pool and inner landscaped student quad compliment this visually striking building.
LEED Gold certified, the building incorporates many sustainable features including a fly-ash concrete mix, resulting in a stronger concrete that is more resistant to corrosion and further reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Exposed cast-in-place concrete combines with the most advanced glazing systems available to further the energy performance of the building.