Toronto Public Library - Albert Campbell Branch

Opened in 1971, the Albert Campbell Branch Library has long served Scarborough’s diverse community. After five decades, the Toronto Public Library initiated a major renewal with LGA Architectural Partners to transform the brutalist building into a brighter, more welcoming hub. My work with LGA Architectural Partners focused on the interior experience—developing finishes, layouts, and custom millwork to create spaces that are intuitive, flexible, and connected to the surrounding landscape.

Rather than replacing or expanding the branch, the redesign unlocked underused space, relocating the entrance to the ground floor and connecting it more directly to the surrounding landscape. The team included new windows, a medicine wheel garden, and Indigenous-led landscape features enhance the building’s relationship with its site and community.

Key contributions included rethinking interior layouts to improve flow and visibility, designing warm wood ceilings that balance acoustics with aesthetics, and creating custom millwork service points that double as book displays, self-check stations, and staff interaction zones. Together these elements support accessibility, wayfinding, and a more inviting atmosphere for Scarborough’s diverse community.