When the McLaughlin Library opened in 1968 at the University of Guelph, it was designed with a 300,000-volume collection capacity to support the projected 1980s enrollment of 15,000 students. As this comprehensive public research library continues to evolve for today’s 20,500 students, so must its physical spaces.

Guided by extensive client and user engagement, we helped the University of Guelph create a four-phase transformative masterplan. The library design plan reflects the rise of digital resources, and includes flexible instruction spaces, a collaborative group-study room, and reading and exhibit rooms for archives and special collections.