Taylor Family Digital Library: A space for learning and connection

The University of Calgary envisioned a new kind of library – an open, collaborative hub where students, faculty, and the public could connect through both physical and digital experiences. Supported by a significant donation from the Taylor Family Foundation, the Taylor Family Digital Library (TFDL) redefines what a university library can be.

Kasian’s design approach balanced the library’s physical presence with its digital interface, creating a seamless relationship between technology, space, and community. The building integrates the latest digital innovations while anticipating the evolving needs for learning. As the heart of campus, it links to existing infrastructure and shares a physical wall with the adjacent university theatre, encouraging movement through a new ground-level thoroughfare and adjacent courtyard.

Designed in collaboration with O2 Planning + Design, the new courtyard located outside of the library’s west entrance reinforces the library’s role as a campus connector. Transparent and semi-transparent glazing brings natural light deep into the interior, transforming the building into a welcoming beacon after dark.

Inside, a café, art gallery, and group study rooms occupy the first floors, while upper levels offer quiet zones and unobstructed views of downtown Calgary and the Rocky Mountains. By minimizing space for physical collections, now housed in the High-Density Library (HDL), the design can better prioritize flexibility and diverse programming.

The Taylor Family Digital Library represents a new era of digital resource libraries that blends technology, architecture, and community to create a vibrant place to gather, learn, and discover.