Parramatta Library has taken out a prestigious award for library design.

The Australian Library and Information Association’s (ALIA) Library Design Awards recognise excellence in contemporary library interiors and exteriors in Australia, and celebrate investment in libraries by institutions, corporations, local, state and territory governments.

Entries were assessed across a range of criteria including design, innovation, accessibility, integration into the local environment, value for money, functionality and meeting community needs.

Winners were announced on Wednesday.

City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Pierre Esber said the library’s “intricate balance between functionality and aesthetics and ability to create an inspiring and engaging environment” saw it named the winner of the Large Public Library category.

The library is establishing itself as part of the City’s identity and one of the community’s best used facilities, Cr Esber said.

“Great library design strikes the perfect balance for both something that is beautiful to be in and is also highly functional, and I want to thank ALIA for this prestigious award and recognition,’” he said.

Parramatta Library is housed in the City’s civic, cultural and community hub PHIVE, which has seen more than 800,000 people walk through the doors since it opened in September 2022.

Spread across six levels, the $136 million centre also houses community meeting rooms, visitor services and Council’s Civic Centre, and provides a place for visitors to borrow a book, study, or participate in wellness creative arts and school holiday programs.

The building was designed by a team led by French architect Manuelle Gautrand in partnership with Australian architecture firms Lacoste+Stevenson and Design Inc.

Constructed by Australian group Built, the building connects with the original heritage-listed Parramatta Town Hall.

It also features ‘smart’ design, which enables the ventilation system to respond to weather conditions.

Parramatta Library was previously recognised among the world’s best libraries as a finalist in the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions’ (IFLA) Public Library of the Year award for 2023.