The Corporation of the City of Courtenay commissioned Merrick Architecture to design a new Public Library on Sixth Street in Courtenay. The facility, which is ideally sited at the top of a visual corridor with views from the downtown core, more than doubles the community’s previous library space, and is designed to be expandable to 17,000 square feet.

The library design makes liberal use of wood, so much so that the Client was awarded a grant from the BC Communities ‘Build with Wood Award’ program for wood construction. Wood composes the structure and fabric of the project. Sawn timber supports and spanning elements of various truss configurations reflect the innovative use of timber construction, honouring the local industry. The use of wood endeavours to connect also to the Courtenay Creamery, the original building on the site.

Upon entering the building, patrons find themselves in a central hall, bright with natural light from clerestory windows above. Book stacks, reading and study areas, a coffee lounge, children’s area, multi-purpose space, public washrooms plus staff work rooms comprise the programmed space.