• Library
• Concert Hall
• Theatre
• Civic Hall
• Rehearsal studio & spaces
• Visual arts exhibition space
• Public art
• The Willoughby WurliTzer organ
• Outdoor amphitheatre and public open space
• 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

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

While Civic Place is constructed the Willoughby City 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 original space at Victoria Street was not big enough to house the growing collection and hindered the further development of services. The Willoughby City Library requires more space for items such as better electronic equipment, language study facilities and local history.

The new Civic Place Library will offer:

• Users 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

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.