1957
Vancouver Public Library
In 1957, the Vancouver Public Library opened its new main branch at Burrard and Robson. The sleek, modernist structure was Vancouver’s first glass curtain building, designed by architects H.N. Semmens and D.C. Simpson. It was awarded the Massey Medal, Canada’s highest architectural honour. Almost from the beginning the building was too small. Designed to accommodate 750,000 volumes, with seating for 300 patrons, the branch soon had more than 5,000 patrons a day scrambling for the scarce chairs.
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