Library at The Dock has been honoured with the Development of the Year award at the 2016 Property Council of Australia Victorian awards.
The library in Victoria Harbour, Docklands – which is a finalist in three categories at the national awards – innovation, best public building and best new sustainable development – took out the prestigious Victorian Development of the Year award.
It is Australia’s most sustainable public building – as well as setting environmental benchmarks for public architecture, the library was designed to contribute sustainably in every sense, including urbanism and social sustainability. Complementing its traditional library collection, the library offers communal spaces for collaboration, gathering, performance, a children’s area and a café.
Since opening in mid-2014, the library has grown in popularity to become a central meeting point for the local community, with more than 123,000 visitors in its first year and over 15,000 attending library events.
Designed by architects Clare Design with Hayball as architect of record, the Library at the Dock was delivered through a tri-partnership between the City of Melbourne, Places Victoria and Lend Lease.
It is now in the running at the Property Council’s national awards, to be announced in Sydney on June 3.
More information: Library at the Dock wins Development of the Year (Places Victoria website)