Using storage innovation at the University of Calgary High Density Library

The High Density Library at the University of Calgary is a modified Design-Build.

The Library is a new architectural typology that provides a high-performance environment in which to store books in an efficient and accessible manner. Books and other materials are stored by size rather than topic to maximize the use of storage space, and the physical building is often located separately from the library it serves.

The storage facility will house and store books, press materials, files, archives, microfilm/fiche, architectural drawings and models, rare books and magazines, paintings, sculptures and more. To maximize the capacity of archival storage, the expansion has a mobile intelligent shelfing unit which moves side to side.

The building’s design is physically separated from, but programmatically connected to, the Taylor Family Digital Library on the University’s main campus. Materials are delivered to the University on-demand, and a reading room is provided for people to visit the HDL and research by appointment. The site for the HDL is on the Veterinary Medicine campus of the University of Calgary, located on the edge of the northwest quadrant of the city of Calgary, Alberta.