Saskatoon Central Library

The Saskatoon Central Library is a landmark 136,000-square-foot civic building that showcases the integration of mass timber into large-scale public architecture. Designed as a modern community hub, the project incorporates exposed CLT and timber elements throughout the interior to create a warm, welcoming environment inspired by Métis log-home construction traditions. The hybrid structural system combines mass timber with steel and concrete to achieve long spans, flexibility, and durability while reducing embodied carbon compared to a conventional all-concrete structure. The building's timber structure is intentionally exposed throughout major public spaces, reinforcing connections to Saskatchewan's forestry sector and Indigenous cultural influences. Targeting LEED Gold certification, the project demonstrates how mass timber can be successfully applied in complex civic and institutional buildings.