THE IDEA EXCHANGE OLD POST OFFICE

LOCATION Galt, Ontario ARCHITECT RDH Architects (RDHA) PHOTOS Tom Arban

The Idea Exchange Old Post Office is situated upon the traditional territories of the Neutral, the Anishinaabeg, and the Haudenosaunee Peoples, at the edge of the Grand River in downtown Galt, Ontario. The project goal was to transform a dilapidated heritage post office into Canada’s first “bookless” library, offering all age groups free access to an array of public spaces for learning, making, performance, and other creative endeavours. It also aimed to establish a new community hub, complete with a contiguous café for meeting and socializing.

Anchored along the bank of the Grand River, the project revitalizes a heritage-listed 1885 masonry post office that had fallen into disrepair. It adds an 835-square-metre transparent pavilion that wraps around the original building and stretches out over the water, revealing the public programs offered within. These programs include the café—which doubles as a reading room and public presentation area—a black box theatre, film and audio recording suites, gaming areas, a children’s learning level, and spaces for sewing, carpentry, and 3D printing.

The existing Neo-Gothic post office, designed by the architect of the Parliament Buildings, Thomas Fuller, carries municipal, provincial, and federal historic designations. Although an expression of its time, the building had virtually no connection with the river. Consequently, the designers embraced the idea that the project could restore this important remnant of settler heritage, while also repairing a lost opportunity to establish a strong human and environmental connection.

The downtown site benefits from views across, up, and down the river, towards major cultural facilities such as the University of Waterloo School of Architecture, the main branch of the Idea Exchange, two large cathedrals, and a new performing arts facility. The glass addition to the post office is conceived as a transparent, glowing, contemporary pavilion floating atop the Grand. Its material vocabulary of transparency brings light into the various levels of studios and public gathering spaces.

Housed within a heritage structure in constant dialogue with its contemporary addition, the Idea Exchange Old Post Office projects the life and vitality of a progressive public library program to the street, the river, and the city beyond.

:: Jury :: The architects integrated contemporary volumes into a historic building with boldness and attention to the fine detail of the junctions between the new and existing structures. This creates a continuity by contrast. Lightened views among common spaces over the water and the gesture of daylight washing the historic façades create an interesting and coherent program.

CLIENT CITY OF CAMBRIDGE AND THE IDEA EXCHANGE | ARCHITECT TEAM TYLER SHARP, BOB GOYECHE, JUAN CABALLERO, SIMON ROUTH, SOO-JIN RIM, IVAN ILIC, GLADYS CHEUNG | STRUCTURAL WSP/HALSALL | MECHANICAL/ELECTRICAL JAIN ASSOCIATES LTD. | CIVIL VALDOR ENGINEERING | ACOUSTICS AERCOUSTICS | CODE L.R.I. | COST AW HOOKER | CONTRACTOR COLLABORATIVE STRUCTURES LTD. | BUDGET $12.8 M | OCCUPANCY OCTOBER 2018

OPPOSITE The Idea Exchange Old Post Office’s multipurpose gathering area cantilevers out over the Grand River. TOP The main floor space serves as a dining area for the adjacent café, lounge, reading room, and space for public presentations and gatherings. MIDDLE, LEFT TO RIGHT The former post office was adaptively reused into maker spaces; the second floor is a kids’ area for creative play; skylights connect the historic structure with the new addition. BOTTOM The meticulously restored heritage building has a strong presence in downtown Galt, Ontario.