Former Charlottetown public library to become arts centre
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The previous Confederation Centre Public Library area – or the South Pavilion because it’s now referred to as – will enter a brand new part as its sixtieth birthday approaches.
After 58 years as a library, the 15,000-square-foot construction will proceed to be a spot for group, mentioned Confederation Centre of the Arts CEO Steve Bellamy.
“We acknowledge that the library is a crucial community-use area, so one of many ideas we’re stepping into with is that it’s going to nonetheless be a community-use area. We’re not going to shut it off,” mentioned Bellamy in a cellphone interview with SaltWire Community July 20.
Bellamy mentioned the previous library is prepared for some essential upgrades to its infrastructure to deliver it as much as code and make it extra accessible for all group teams. The purpose is to extend the centre’s usable area for studying and group actions, he mentioned.
Nonetheless, for the reason that centre is a nationwide heritage constructing, the core structure shall be conserved.
“There are quite a bit for challenges with regard to accessibility, so we’re planning on making a way more accessible entrance off Victoria Row and rising the quantity of area and the quantity of sunshine that will get into the constructing,” mentioned Bellamy.
Do you know?
• The brand new Charlottetown Library Studying Centre has moved throughout the road from its former location at Confederation Centre of the Arts.
• It has extra space and extra stuff than the previous location. The earlier area was roughly 15,000 sq. ft in comparison with the brand new area at 40,000 sq. ft.
• The library assortment has remained across the identical at 39,600 items; nonetheless, there at the moment are extra musical devices to borrow.
Adapting the area
Whereas no plans are finalized, he mentioned the area shall be tailored for arts schooling and heritage packages, reminiscent of visible arts lessons, artwork camps, music theatre and dance coaching, mentioned Bellamy.
The Schurman Household Studio will even be moved there for visible arts programming.
“The extra area will permit us to extend our performing arts education schemes into the group. We’ll have extra packages for seniors, we’ll have inclusive dance packages and different progress,” mentioned Bellamy.
The centre can also be taking the chance to make the construction a bit extra environmentally pleasant, he mentioned.
“It’s a chance to utilize the newest expertise with reference to sustainability.”
The centre has recruited Abbot Brown Architects to design the brand new area and has introduced in a sustainability advisor. Bellamy mentioned the agency may have some preliminary photos to share with the general public within the subsequent couple of months.
Alison Jenkins is a reported with SaltWire Community in P.E.I.
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