Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects and KWC Architects, the Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada Joint Facility (OPL-LAC) combines the resources of two institutions to create an environment for discovery, learning, and fellowship. “This coming together of library and archives advances the evolution of centres of knowledge and culture and presents new opportunities to access a rich and diverse national collection,” said Gary McCluskie, Principal, Diamond Schmitt Architects in a statement.

The library will house exhibition and collection space, reading rooms, a creative center, children's area, and a genealogy center and cafe. The design process progressed in an uncommon collaborative model that asked residents, Indigenous communities, and "Canadians from coast to coast" to provide feedback and input at every phase of the design.

City Councillor Tim Tierney, Chair of the Ottawa Public Library Board said in a statement, "The reveal of the design of OPL-LAC Joint Facility illustrates the power of connections between institutions and the contributions of more than 4,000 people who came together to inspire all aspects of the design, inside and out." The final design draws inspiration from the history of Ottawa and pulls from its natural surroundings. The Ottawa River is one area of formal information, seen in the building's organic geometry. Moreover, the stone and wood exterior tie to the green space on the western edge of the adjacent downtown area.