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with age rather than eroding to green. Considered
more aesthetically appropriate, says the mayor, it is
also used for the Rose building.
New finials (roof ornaments) appear even more
prominent in replica than before.
A NEWGREEN
"Abig departure from the original," says Mayor
Trent, is the change in colour painted on the
wooden window frames and trim. Gone is the bright
paddy-green used for 95 years. It's replaced by a
softer, greyer green verging on olive that also was
thought to be more appropriate. It was chosen over
"an almost black" tone called African Night also
suggested by architect Rose, he says.
THE PARKENTRANCE
Elimination of Library Drive and its replace-
ment with grass puts the original east entrance back
in the park. New steps of granite and limestone lead
up to what is being called the Park Entrance.
"We've recessed the doors into the portico and
rebuilt the stairway to permit gentler-sloping steps,
the way they used to be," Mr. Trent says. It was
1936 when the door was pushed out to the edge of
the portico and the original mosaic floor torn up to
install a revolving inner door. The portico brick has
now been stripped and the travertine floor tiles
replaced with slate slabs matching those used in the
new north entrance.
RECLAIMING THE LOBBY
Inside the Park Entrance, the central lobby is
now spacious and bright. Removed are the parti-
tions in the arches that border the north reading
room on the right. The central arch and one to the
left are restored by installing replicas of two missing
columns that had been removed during previous re-
arrangements of floor space. The new columns are
indistinguishable from the originals as are the
arches of the new colonnade.
"I'm very proud of this," Mayor Trent says,
tapping one of the replica columns. It rings with a
hollow resonance that betrays its origin. The new
ones were cast in two pieces from the originals and
plastered together down the middle.
In its restoration, the lobby has gained a
coffered ceiling it never had as well as a small
reading room, east of the new circulation desk.
Called the Cube Room for its equal dimensions, its
closed arches now hold the four paintings by Adam
Sheriff Scott that depict printing techniques enti-
tled: Printing Press, Manuscript, Papyrus and Cave
Drawing. Restored by Robin Ashton, these used to
decorate the arches opposite the east entrance, two
being hidden by the circulation desk.
Over the new circulation desk is a canopy, both
of oak, designed by Peter Rose and the subjects of
great debate. Would the desk be free-standing?
What about its lighting? "The canopy was Rose's
idea to conceal the lights," says library director
Caroline Thibodeau. It hangs from four metal rods
that resemble those used for the canopy outside
Windsor Station which dates from the same era as
the library.
"We've tried to keep the computer equipment
as discreet as possible," she says. The terminals are
lowered out of sight under the counter top of the
circulation desk so that operators can view the
screens through glass.
Roofline before removal of connection (50A) and after (50B).
Photo 51: restoring the Park Entrance.
50B