Croxon Ramsay designs ‘visionary’ regional library

Baw Baw Shire Council in Victoria's West Gippsland region has announced that Croxon Ramsay has completed detailed designs for the proposed Baw Baw Library and Learning Centre.

The $30 million project is set to become the heart of the Baw Baw Culture and Connection Precinct.

The civic and community building will occupy underutilized areas of the West Gippsland Arts Centre and Civic Park and will accommodate study areas, reading, collections, video gaming, cultural spaces, meeting rooms, co-working spaces, public amenities, a library, a children's library, a gallery, a maker's space, a cafe, a public terrace, and a plaza with a pedestrian connection to the West Gippsland Arts Centre.

The building will be a mass-laminated timber construction and prioritize local, renewable, low-maintenance and fire-resistant materials; natural light; sun-shading; and ventilation. The building will use 100 percent renewable energy and target a 5-star Green Star certification.

"Utilizing innovative materials and intelligent architecture will provide us with a magnificent, long-lasting, low-maintenance community building for the future," said Baw Baw Shire mayor Annemarie McCabe.

Danny Goss, chair of the Baw Baw Culture and Connection Precinct project reference group, said the "visionary" design will allow the council to "lead the way in building sustainable, future ready public infrastructure."