• Civic Hall
• Concert Hall
• Library
• Theatre
• Stormwater Detention Tank
• The Studio and Rehearsal Room
• Visual arts exhibition space
• Public art
• The Willoughby WurliTzer organ
• Outdoor amphitheatre and terraced gardens
• Lantern
• Car parking
• Retail space
• Serviced apartments
• Functional excellence

Library

"Good information resources, reliable equipment, skilled staff and attractive and efficient buildings … are essential elements in providing effective library services to the community."
- People Places, by Justice Mahla Pearlman, President of the Library Council of New South Wales and Dagmar Schmidmaier, Former State Librarian

An artist's render of the study area in the new library

Chatswood Library is the busiest library in NSW and has more users than Sydney’s State Library. More than 2000 people visit Chatswood Library each day and this is expected to increase to 2500 a day. The library’s space has been stretched to its limit.

The library also offers a wide range of events and activities for all ages, as well as special services which include: Childrens and Youth Services, Ethnic Services, Home Library Services, Local History and Community Information services.

While Civic Place is being constructed, the Library has temporarily moved to Level 1 of the Mandarin Centre at 65 Albert Avenue, Chatswood. Operating hours will remain the same. The new library at Civic Place is planned to be completed in 2011.

The new Civic Place Library will cover two levels in the middle of Civic Place. It will cover 5000 sqm, making it three times bigger than the previous library and one of the largest libraries in Australia. The flexible design will accommodate future growth; there will be peaceful sunlit areas for reading and study, and far better access for people with a disability.

The new Library will offer:

• Comfortable surroundings and space to meet, browse, relax, read and study
• Vastly improved access for the elderly and people with disabilities, including a lift between levels, wider aisles, better lighting, and clear signage
• Expanded study and training facilities including reading areas and more computers
• A dedicated space for children with room for participation in planned activities and story times
• On-site offices and administration to allow smoother operation of services
• RFID technology and Automated Material Handling systems will expediate the circulation of library items and allow users to self-checkout their loans at designated stations

Library Design Brief

In 2000 Dr David J Jones, former Library Building Consultant and Principal, State Library of New South Wales, worked with library staff to prepare an Outline Brief for the new Civic Place Library. The Outline Brief supported the Civic Place Master planning Brief which directed the Master planning Team in examining design options for the Civic Place site.