Description du lieu patrimonial

The Vancouver Island Regional Library is a one storey, West Coast Vernacular style building located on the main thoroughfare of one of Nanaimo's oldest neighbourhoods. The historic place is confined to the building footprint.

Valeur patrimoniale

The Vancouver Island Regional Library is a very good example of West Coast vernacular style. Developed after World War II, this regional style typically used post and beam construction which allowed for greater freedom in the positioning of windows and partitions than did standard stud construction. The style's modern ambience was appropriate for new institutional buildings such as libraries.

The Vancouver Island Regional Library is significant for its association with the architectural firm of McArravy and Barley. One of the pioneers of the use of modernism on Vancouver Island, Thomas McArravy was Nanaimo's most prominent architect for many years. His best known work is the Nanaimo City Hall. McArravy later partnered with Les Barley and the firm designed a number of local landmarks including the Salvation Army Building and the Nanaimo District Senior Secondary School. After McArravy retired, Barley partnered with Weismiller and designed the Bowen Park Complex, the Nanaimo District Museum and many other institutional buildings throughout the mid-island area.

The Vancouver Island Regional Library speaks to the municipal government’s earliest attempt to streamline community services for efficiency and easy public access. By the mid-1960s, the police station, health unit, library and firehall were all located in what was historically known as Lubbock Square, just outside the downtown core. The library and health unit have since moved to other locations. The firehall and main police station remain and are tangible reminders of the area’s early importance as a central location for most of the city’s protective and community services. This building currently houses additional police offices.

Source: City of Nanaimo, Development Services Department

Éléments caractéristiques

The character-defining elements of the Vancouver Island Regional Library include:
-all of the elements of the West Coast vernacular style as expressed in the post and beam construction, l-shaped plan, masonry feature wall, corner windows, clerestory ribbon windows and overhanging eaves.
-the building's location, within a grouping of new and older institutional buildings, on the main thoroughfare of one of Nanaimo's oldest neighbourhoods.