State Library Victoria wins best Urban Design in 2021 Melbourne Awards

We’re thrilled that State Library Victoria Vision 2020 Redevelopment took home the Urban Design Award in the coveted 2021 Melbourne Awards. 

As Australia’s oldest and busiest public library, and the fourth most visited library in the world, State Library Victoria is a much-loved and respected institution. We collaborated with Schmidt Hammer Lassen to design the Vision 2020 project, which reimagined the 165-year old landmark building on Swanston Street and transformed it into a library of the future. 

The redevelopment unlocked 40% more public space and 70% more seating and returned the inimitable Ian Potter Queen’s Hall – the Library’s original reading room – to the Victorian community after being closed for 16 years.  

A suite of new library spaces was opened to the public, including a revitalised Swanston Street entrance, a world-class gallery space, Victoria Gallery, and a dedicated children’s area, the Pauline Gandel Children’s Quarter. 

Vision 2020 enabled the Library to meet the changing needs of an increasingly diverse and digital community, which welcomes 2 million visitors a year, including researchers, students, families, children, culture seekers, and tourists.  

Architectus Principal, Ruth Wilson said “Working on the design of such a cherished and vital institution was immensely rewarding. Our design approach was to honour and reveal the original beauty of the heritage building while ensuring that the new spaces meet the needs of an expanding city and its future generations.” 

Read more about the project here.