The Brutalist: Canadian Libraries Edition

March 2, 2025

While Hollywood may get GLAM-med up for the 97th Academy Awards, members of the Canadian library community hoping for cameos in one Best Picture nominee by their favourite (or least favourite) library building may be disappointed.

To help, here is a selection of Brutalist library buildings across Canada

WAC Bennett Library

Simon Fraser University
Burnaby BC

Architect: Robert F. Harrison
Opened: 1965
More info: https://www.lib.sfu.ca/about/initiatives/wac-bennett-library-renewal/history

Thomas J. Bata Library

Trent University
Peterborough ON

Architect: Rom Thom
Opened: 1967
More info: https://oaa.on.ca/whats-on/bloaag/bloaag-detail/Thomas-J–Bata-Library-1967

D.B. Weldon Library

Western University
London ON

Architect: John Andrews
Opened: 1967
More info: https://www.erudit.org/en/journals/jssac/2019-v44-n2-jssac05295/1069482ar.pdf

McLennan Library

McGill University
Montreal QC

Architect: Dobush, Stewart and Bourke
Opened: 1969
More info: https://tinyurl.com/McGillMcLennan

Killam Memorial Library

Dalhousie University
Halifax NS

Architect: Leslie R. Fairn
Opened: 1971
More info: https://cdn.dal.ca/content/dam/dalhousie/pdf/library/Library_Administration/Killambuildinghistory.pdf

Morisset Library

University of Ottawa
Ottawa ON

Architect: Cliff Chin
Constructed: 1972
More info: https://www.capitalmodern.ca/modern-places/morisset-library/

John P. Robarts Research Library

University of Toronto
Toronto ON

Architect: Warner, Burns, Toane and Lunde, in association with Mathers and Haldenby
Opened: 1973
More info: https://spacing.ca/toronto/2023/11/30/robarts-library-an-architectural-oral-history/

Ottawa Public Library – Main Branch

Ottawa ON

Architect: George Bemi
Opened: 1973
More info: https://urbsite.blogspot.com/2014/07/george-bemis-public-library-is-it.html

Hail the New Library

“The new main branch of the Ottawa Public Library is a stunning example of modern architecture. A standing rebuke to the notion that because a building is new and functional it need be sterile and cold. The new Library may indeed be the most successful public building put up into Ottawa since the Union Station.”

– Ottawa Journal, January 11, 1974