Chemainus Library

Municipality of North Cowichan

The Vancouver Island Regional Library is proposing to construct a new library for the community of Chemainus, in the District of North Cowichan. The 5000 square foot facility, located at the intersection of Willow Street and Cypress Street, will feature a greater inventory than the existing facility, a children’s area, a study space with fireplace, a laptop bar, and a larger public computer area.

Westbrook Consulting was retained to design the upgrades to the frontage along both Willow Street and Cypress Street, as well as the site servicing and parking area.

A complexity of the project included integrating the necessity for storm water detention, as well as a desire to integrate low impact development storm water features on the site. Due to the building’s large footprint, space was limited for both features; however, with close coordination with the landscape architect and design team, two rain garden areas were sited and an underground detention system was designed to meet the needs of the project.

The library construction is anticipated to be completed in the spring of 2020.

Key Personnel: Bruce Crawshaw; Ryan Deernsted; Ivan Yevseyev