Last summer, we shared a delightful surprise: Little Canada in Toronto had created a detailed miniature replica of the Downtown Kelowna Branch of the Okanagan Regional Library.
Now, there’s even more to celebrate.
Canadian Architect recently published an article highlighting 10 buildings recreated at Little Canada, and the Downtown Kelowna Branch was one of them. Our library, in quarter-scale form, is officially part of a national architectural conversation.
In the feature, Canadian Architect describes the branch’s distinctive quarter-circle floor plan and its sweeping curved wall of glass. Originally designed by Moshe Safdie & Associates and later renovated by Urban Arts Architects, the building’s unique shape posed an intriguing challenge for the Little Canada team. To recreate that signature curve, makers first designed the wall in 3D software, then constructed a supporting acrylic skeleton behind the glass panes to hold each tiny square in place. It’s a reminder that even in miniature, great design demands creativity, precision, and care.
There’s something especially meaningful about seeing the ORL represented this way. The Downtown Kelowna Branch is more than an architectural landmark. It’s a space where people gather to read, study, connect, create, attend programs, access technology, and feel welcome. Seeing it thoughtfully recreated in Toronto reflects the impact of public libraries far beyond their walls.
The ORL serves communities across the Okanagan and beyond, connecting people to knowledge, culture, and one another. To have one of our branches featured among celebrated Canadian buildings is a proud moment not only for the ORL, but for the communities who bring these spaces to life every day.
If you find yourself in Toronto, you can visit Little Canada and see the Downtown Kelowna Branch in miniature. It may be small, but it represents something big: a shared belief in public spaces that welcome everyone. And that’s a story worth telling—at any scale.
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