Winnipeg is the capital and largest city in the province of Manitoba, located within the prairies of Western Canada. Winnipeg Centennial Library, originally constructed in 1976 as a three-story building, occupies a city block along with a large public park. Both library and green space stand on a below-grade parking garage.

The library, which is roughly triangular in plan, is constructed of reinforced concrete; the concrete is exposed on the interior, while the exterior is clad in pre-cast panels. Connection between the 1976 library and park is surprisingly limited. The monolithic concrete and the disconnection from the setting result in a fortress-like building with generally closed and introspective interiors.