McGill University – Osler Library

McGill University's Osler Library, part of the Faculty of Medicine, holds one of the most important collections on the history of medicine in North America. Originating from Sir William Osler's 1919 bequest, this collection of nearly 100,000 volumes was originally housed in a room designed by architect Percy Nobbs in the Strathcona Building. In 1965, it was entirely dismantled and reconstructed in the McIntyre Building, preserving its original oak woodwork and stained-glass windows. Over time, however, this integration proved problematic, leading to the gradual dispersal of the collection.

EVOQ was mandated to renovate the library's 3rd and 4th floors, creating spaces suited to the conservation of rare books, equipped with rigorous climate control systems and controlled-access areas. The collection was sorted and classified according to its specific conservation requirements.

Today, most of the volumes have been returned to their original shelving in a suitable environment, ensuring the long-term preservation of this exceptional documentary heritage.