Library with a View
My favourite place in downtown Prince George is the library and the Civic Plaza that surrounds it.
The area is not only esthetically pleasing, but it also offers some beautiful vistas of the surrounding city and low mountains that create the "City Bowl".
This little island of urban planning, greatly enhanced by a tree-lined street and interlocking stone sidewalks, is also graced by the Two Rivers Gallery and the Civic Centre.
The beautiful setting is enhanced by the entire Civic Plaza including the library. It is majestically juxtaposed against a physical downtown landmark - hill-top Connaught Park... (blog to follow)
The ample windows of the elevated library and a large promenade that surrounds it, provide some of the best views from the City Bowl.
Towards the north are the buildings of commercial downtown and as a backdrop, the soaring, steep banks of the Nechako River. To the west, the eye is drawn to the University of Northern BC, perched like a fortress, on the far-off mountain ridge. To the south, one can see Highway 16, like a ribbon in the green forest cutting over the ridge towards College Heights and some of the best suburban living in the Prince George Region.
Libraries have always held a special fascination for me. I am sorry to say, the fascination was not based on my love of reading. Other than current events, I read very little and despite many resolutions to do what so many people seem to greatly enjoy -read, I do not seem to have the make-up to accomplish this.
My fascination seems to be based on two things.
Firstly libraries are places where communities like to make a statement of architectural beauty. This is in evidence in such places as Ottawa, Victoria, and Courtney - Comox and particularly in Vancouver (see Vancouver --Blog no.1) and Montreal (recently opened across from Metro Berri-de Montigny). All of these libraries are esthetically pleasing and wonderful to behold, not only on the outside, but also on the inside. It is this physical package which makes them a great place to: hang out, be informed, work, reflect and yes-read, even if it's only the latest issue of Time, L'Express or Der Spiegel.
Secondly, as a frequent traveller, the internet access offered by libraries is invaluable. Especially in Victoria, the one hour a day of free Internet access basically allowed me to download all of the photos which are a part of the Victoria blogs.
The main branch of the Prince George library is named the Bob Harkin Branch, in recognition of a life-time of service to Prince George by this former alderman.
The library's multitude of services are well catalogued at: http://www.lib.pg.bc.ca and its bulletin boards are a wealth of information as to what is going on in Prince George.
During the summer, historical walking tours are given daily starting from the library. Unfortunately, due to travelling, I missed my chance to gather some valuable information.
My favourite hangout in the library (no--it's not the Internet--I have that at home now) is the back corner on the second floor, where the newspapers and magazines are clustered. Seen through the glass walls, the dense evergreens on the near-by steep slopes of Connaught Park, as well as the indoor plants, create an oasis of calm and reflection. A sunny day completes this cozy environment, as the rays of the morning sun spread their soothing warmth to create a feeling of well-being and general joie-de-vivre.
As one leaves the library the most impressive structure is the near-by Two Rivers Gallery which is a celebration of native art from the Northern BC area.
The beauty of the architecture is outstanding with a very creative mix of vast glass, natural stone and sweeping arched columns of natural wood.
The building achieves its main objective, that of catching the eye of the visitor and soliciting the curiosity to investigate that which might be inside such a beautiful structure.
For further info: http://www.maicnet.org/Two%20Rivers%20Gallery/Default.html
Across the plaza is the Prince George Civic Centre and it is described at their web site: http://www.city.pg.bc.ca/civiccentre/index.html, as Northern BC's flagship multipurpose facility.
It is firstly a convention centre with 40,000 sq. ft. of event space. Its auditoriums can be used, apart from conventions, for dinners, dances, receptions and concerts.
Another auditorium is in fact a hardwood court for basketball, volleyball and badminton with telescopic seating for 585 spectators.
One of the Centre's nicest features is the large stained glass rotunda that provides a transition point in the walkway between the library and the convention centre.
My interest in the building at this point is again from an architectural viewpoint. With simple lines, ample use of smoked glass windows and a pleasing red colour, it creates a modern, efficient look. With the vistas to the surrounding area from the inside of the convention centre, one could conclude that this also is a convention centre with a view.
In conclusion, I would have to say that the centre piece of it all, is the clock tower in the middle of the Civic Plaza.
Like the old European historical city centres, there is always a clock tower to fascinate the visitor. As I write this, my thoughts drift to the stunning clock tower in Freiburg-im-Breisgau (Black Forest) as a prime example of medieval beauty. But on second thought, nothing is perfect because it just occurs to me, that there is a McDonald's either in the bottom floor of the clock tower or perhaps right beside it.
However, there is no danger here in Prince George of a McDonald's being in, or near, the clock tower. It is a functional, but eye-catching, tubular steel structure. Its appeal lies indeed in its simplicity.
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