The University of Waterloo Libraries’ Strategic Space Plan outlines a 15-year vision to renew and evolve Dana Porter Library and Davis Centre Library.
Launched in March 2024 under the direction of the Provost, and co-led by the Libraries and the Office of the Provost, the project responds to changing patterns and needs in learning, teaching, research and campus life.
Download the full Library Strategic Space Planning Report.
Guiding principles
A campus-wide steering committee developed guiding principles aligned with the University’s campus plan. These principles informed an RFP process that selected Perkins & Will to develop the 15-year space plan.
Intellectual Centre
Strengthen the Libraries’ role as the intellectual centre of campus by supporting deep study, interdisciplinary research and academic exchange.
Common Good Space
Position the libraries as shared, welcoming spaces that serve the entire University community and reinforce the Libraries’ role as a public academic resource.
Experiential Learning
Support hands-on, experiential learning through flexible spaces designed for collaboration, innovation, digital scholarship and emerging pedagogies.
Welcoming and Inclusive
Create accessible, inclusive environments that reflect Waterloo’s commitments to Indigeneity, equity, diversity and belonging, and support multiple ways of learning and knowing.
Dana Porter Library, main lobby rendering
Campus engagement
Early engagements in 2024 included student feedback sessions, more than 5,000 survey responses, and presentations to senior leadership, campus partners, faculty and student government.
Between August and October 2025, Perkins & Will led additional consultations with more than 1,000 campus community members, including workshops, open houses and leadership sessions. These sessions helped identify current needs, test early design concepts and learn directly from students, faculty, staff and community members.
Key program goals
Guided by Waterloo at 100 and evolving academic and research needs, the plan establishes long-term program goals that will guide library renewal over the next 15 years. These goals balance aspiration with practicality.
- Elevate the Libraries as a central, people-driven campus resource
- Provide flexible and adaptable spaces for learning and research
- Enhance accessibility and create new opportunities for use
- Strengthen the Libraries’ role as a campus and community hub
- Broaden access to specialized campus resources
- Provide functional staff spaces that support library services
Dana Porter Library - Learning commons rendering
Study Spaces
Study space at both main campus locations will increase, with dynamic spaces introduced to meet the full spectrum of student needs.
- Learning commons
- Flexible, student-centred spaces designed to support collaboration, creativity and academic success.
- After hours
- Expanded access to study space at Dana Porter outside regular operating hours.
- Silent study rooms
- Bookable spaces for quiet or silent study with acoustic separation from collaboration spaces.
- Bookable spaces for quiet or silent study with acoustic separation from collaboration spaces.
Dana Porter Library
Dana Porter Library sits at the heart of campus. The space plan reaffirms its role as an intellectual hub and community gathering place, strengthening its connection with the Two Row Path.
Space will be organized vertically with active, collaborative engagement spaces on the lower levels and quieter, focused environments on the upper floors.
Dana Porter will also become home to specialty spaces to support everyone on campus including:
- Event space
- A welcoming and adaptable venue for academic, cultural and community engagement.
- Digital Scholarship Lab
- A hub for advanced technologies, specialized software, expert support and a community of scholars.
- Media Production Studio
- A space to create high-quality audio and video content for teaching, research and storytelling.
- Indigenous Learning Centre
- Welcoming environment to deeply engage with and learn from Elders and Knowledge Keepers, as well as highlight significant physical collections and artifacts.
Davis Centre Library
Davis Centre Library is a high-traffic, centrally located space. The plan uses its open layout to create welcoming, collaborative areas near the main entrance, with quieter, focused environments located deeper within the library and on the lower level.
Davis will also become home to specialty spaces to support everyone on campus including:
- IGNITE lab
- A teaching and research space advancing emerging work in e-sports, gaming, user experience design and augmented reality.
- Idea to Impact Hub
- A flexible, technology-rich environment for hands-on instruction, workshops and collaborative inquiry.
- Library Accessibility Commons
- A dedicated space supporting students who require assistance and access to adaptive technology.
- A dedicated space supporting students who require assistance and access to adaptive technology.
Dana Porter Library, event space rendering
Davis Centre Library, IGNITE lab rendering
Davis Centre Library, Library Accessibility Commons rendering
Implementation
The plan is organized around a phased, 15-year implementation strategy to allow the libraries to remain operational throughout construction and minimize disruption to students, faculty and staff.
This phased approach ensures:
- Continuous access to study spaces, collections and services
- Gradual improvements that reflect evolving learning and research needs
- Cost-effective, deliberate transformation aligned with institutional priorities
Questions can be directed to universitylibrarian@uwaterloo.ca.
Our sincere thanks to the Libraries’ Strategic Space Planning Steering Committee:
- Beth Namachchivaya, University Librarian, Libraries, co-chair
- Jude Doble, Associate University Librarian, Libraries
- Randy Dauphin, Library Systems & Facilities Director, Libraries
- Meghan Whitfield, External Relations Director, Libraries
- Paul Fieguth, Associate Vice President, Academic Operations, co-chair
- Antia Malatic, Project Manager, Plant Operations
- Amy Bender, Director, Space Planning Office
- David DeVidi, Associate Vice President, Academic
- Abhishesh Homagain, Vice-President of Administration, Graduate Student Association
- Rob Hunsperger, Senior Director, Planning, Design and Construction
- Merochini Manohar, Director, Undergraduate Student Relations Committee, WUSA
- Mary Ann Mavrinac, Andrew H. and Janet Dayton Neilly Dean Emeritus, University of Rochester
- Damian Mikhail, President, WUSA
- Chris Read, Associate Provost, Students
- Justin Wan, Associate Vice-President, Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs
- John Lewis, Interim Associate Vice-President, Indigenous Relations