Sydney Library by Kengo Kuma

A render of the "Darling Exchange." Image credit Kengo Kuma Architects / the City of Sydney

A striking circular building at Darling Harbour will house a new City of Sydney library for the area’s existing and incoming residents, following an agreement with Lendlease.

The six storey community and retail centre, designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, will be built by developer Lendlease at Darling Square. — the City of Sydney

The Office of the Mayor of Sydney announced that the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma will design a new multi-use building at Darling Square that will include a two-level library. The developer Lendlease will build the timber-swathed structure.

“I am very pleased that the City has reached an in-principle agreement with Lendlease for two floors of the fabulous Kengo Kuma building," states Lord Mayor Clover Moore. "The contemporary library will include a flexible space for seminars and workshops, with technology to support entrepreneurs and innovators."

Specifically, these "flexible spaces" will include an "Innovation Exchange Program" for start-ups, and a "makerspace," or facility for experimentation with robotics and emerging manufacturing technologies – a new mainstay for many libraries. Pending planning approval, two floors will also be dedicated to a for-profit childcare center.

The current plan, pending its approval by municipal council, would be for the City of Sydney to lease the 2,225 sq. meter space for up to 99 years at a "very competitive market rate." The facilities are expected to open in 2018.

The project, known as the "Darling Exchange," would replace the current Haymarket Library, which is a quarter the size of the proposed facilities.