Kabi Kabi peoples
Queensland
Sunshine Coast
Library+ Caloundra marks a bold leap in civic infrastructure for the Sunshine Coast. Designed by Wilson Architects in partnership with Robinson Architects, this $45.4M project transforms a 1995 administration building into a 5,647m² "community heart." The design moves beyond the traditional library, integrating a Major District Library with a modern Council customer service centre and workplace.
By repurposing the existing structure, the project captures significant embodied carbon and achieves a 6-Star Green Star design rating. The architecture reflects the local landscape—transitioning from "ground to canopy to sky"—while a new eastward extension creates a civic-scaled "outdoor room" nestled among mature fig trees.
With a 260% increase in new memberships since opening, Library+ has become a vibrant catalyst for urban renewal. It demonstrates how strategic adaptive reuse can transform legacy assets into flexible, inclusive, and sustainable social infrastructure for a rapidly growing region.
The Caloundra City Council in collaboration with their architects, has transformed an existing council building into a distinctive new cultural and events venue. Designed to serve both the Council and its constituents, this library facility invests in high-quality design, sustainability, and culture, supporting local jobs and energizing the community.
With portions of the facility accessible to the public after hours, the interface between public and private spaces has been skillfully executed, allowing the foyer to expand into the adjacent park. Additionally, the fit-out resolves long-standing constraints, including accessibility and limited amenities.
This refurbishment represents a bold expansion of community facilities for the Caloundra Shire Council and its residents, marking the commencement of a new district master plan.
Commendation for Public Architecture
The Caloundra City Council in collaboration with their architects, has transformed an existing council building into a distinctive new cultural and events venue. Designed to serve both the Council and its constituents, this library facility invests in high-quality design, sustainability, and culture, supporting local jobs and energizing the community.
With portions of the facility accessible to the public after hours, the interface between public and private spaces has been skillfully executed, allowing the foyer to expand into the adjacent park. Additionally, the fit-out resolves long-standing constraints, including accessibility and limited amenities.
This refurbishment represents a bold expansion of community facilities for the Caloundra Shire Council and its residents, marking the commencement of a new district master plan.
Sustainability shortlist
Library+ Caloundra marks a visionary leap in civic infrastructure, transforming a 1995 administration building into a dynamic, integrated district library, community hub, and Council workplace. A cornerstone of the Sunshine Coast Council’s Workplaces Strategy, this renewal project aligns with the new corporate headquarters in Maroochydore. By reimagining the site from a Class 5 facility into a multifaceted Class 9b and Class 5 environment, the project exemplifies how legacy assets can be repurposed as vibrant social infrastructure. It successfully addresses the needs of a rapidly growing community through strategic, sustainable, and adaptive reuse.
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Phillip Lukin, Project Architect
Jolyon Robinson, Design Architect
Tomoyuki Takada, Design Architect
Sarah Hewlett, Graduate of Architecture
Monique Watt, Design Architect
Tanya Nielsen, Interior Designer
Courtney Fowkes, Interior Designer
Building Certifiers Australia, Access Consultant
Renzo Tonin Associates (Qld), Acoustic Consultant
JHA Consulting Engineers, Engineer
Building Certifiers Australia, Certifier
Bornhorst and Ward, Civil Engineer
JHA Consulting Engineers, Electrical Engineer
Dsquared, ESD Consultant
Omnii, Fire Engineer
JHA Consulting Engineers, Hydraulic Engineer
Irrigation Design Australia, Irrigation
Wilson Architects, Landscape Architecture
JHA Consulting Engineers, Vertical Transport Engineer
JHA Consulting Engineers, Mechanical Engineer
Turner and Townsend, Quantity Surveyor
Elevation Design, Signage
Omnii, Sprinkler Engineer
Bornhorst and Ward, Structural Engineer