Library Buildings around the World

The Golden West College Learning Resource Center incorporates 50,000 square feet of general collection space for approximately
65,000 volumes, an information commons for tutoring and instructional support, a new media wing, and community-accessible
spaces for meetings. This state-of-the-art facility consolidates campus resources, but also supports the learning process by providing
increased computer access for both students and staff. Working with college leadership, administrative staff and building user
groups, the project team completed program verification. The new facility is located at the west edge of campus, a site chosen for its
prominence at the entry of the college and its potential to connect with the Huntington Beach community. Orientation and layout of
programmatic elements facilitates views to an adjacent California native garden and interaction with a primary pedestrian pathway
that links students to the center of campus. Interior organization focuses on the juxtaposition of zones of quiet, contemplative spaces
with collaborative and social areas. (Steinberg)
Crafton Hills College, Learning Resource Center, Yucaipa, CA – USA 2010
Size: 58,500 sqft., Program: auditorium, gallery, library & learning centers, multi-purpose rooms, teaching & learning center,
technology & AV services, Services: programming, FPP, design through construction
Awards:
CCFC Professional Design Award, Award of Excellence, Award of Merit,
Illumination Engineering Society AIA Santa Clara Valley, Design Award Citation
Subsequent to the development of a full campus master plan, programming was provided for a number of buildings on the Crafton
Hills College campus, including the Learning Resource Center. The building combines current library, Learning Center and campus
data center components into a single structure. Within the Learning Resource Center, students have access to open labs of wired
carrels, computer workstations, and reader tables as well as breakout spaces for tutoring and group study. A teaching center for
faculty and staff allows users to improve lecture techniques and receive training on utilizing smart classroom components and
incorporating technology into their curriculum. Integration of a gallery and a 100-seat auditorium finalizes the building’s program,
furthering the relationship between the college and the growing community of Yucaipa. (Steinberg)
Los Angeles City College, MLK (Martin Luther King Jr.) Library, Los Angeles, CA – USA 2008
64.000 sqf., € 22.000.000
Los Angeles City College will soon embark on the construction of a new library on its East Hollywood campus. It will replace the old
one on the quad which was built in the mid-30s, with additions from the 60s. The new library will be located on the north end of the
campus, along Willowbrook Avenue near Vermont, on the site of the current men’s gymnasium and former athletic field. It will be
conveniently located near the Santa Monica-Vermont Metro stop. Designed by Steinberg Architects, the building will be three stories
high. The building is being funded with approximately $20 million from the State and $1.8 million from Prop A funds.
Groundbreaking will occur in the fall of this year and the building should be completed by early 2008. “The new library will be
much more pleasant for the students,” said Barbara Vasquez, library chairperson. “It will be a lot more intuitive as to where things
are, with more outdoor light from expansive windows. Because of its shape, all interior spaces will be near windows, even the study
rooms. And the second and third floors will have nice views of downtown. There will be improved safety features. And the furniture
will be more ergonomic. Also there’ll be more study rooms to accommodate the demands of the students.” The new structure will
have a long and narrow shape, 300 feet long and 60 feet wide, with 64,000 square feet of space, which is equivalent to the old one.
With a staff of 14 librarians and library technicians, the library will house 150,000 books, with computerized databases for
newspaper and magazine research. The college newspaper, The Collegian, will also be on line. There will be ample internet
connections, both for hardwired and wireless computers. The first floor will house the circulation desk, periodicals, the reference
desk with 36 adjacent computers, an archive room, and a computer classroom. The second floor will house 126 computers, one third
of the book stacks, eight group study rooms, plus individualized study areas. The remainder of the books will be housed on the third
floor, with nine group study rooms, an additional computer classroom, a conference room and individual study areas with carrels
and tables. The new building will have a faux-brick facade that will complement the look of the nearby brick-clad communications
building. It will also have many windows. The interior decorations will include blue carpeting, furniture made of light wood with a
deep navy inset that will resist marring, and ergonomic chairs. The book stacks will have metallic gray shelving and the lounge
chairs will be lime green with navy accents. The building will have state-of-the-art air conditioning and the ceilings are being
designed to expose the ductwork and lighting. Two public elevators, a separate elevator for book carts, as well as a number of
stairways will also be incorporated into the design. The new library building will take the name of the old one with it: the Martin
Luther King, Jr., Library. An engraving of the text of Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech will be placed on a first floor window
next to the entrance. The lead architect is Gilbert Rocca. Steinberg Architects has offices located in Los Angeles, San Jose and San
Francisco. The firm has designed other buildings for the LA Community College District, as well as libraries throughout the world,
including one in New Zealand. To prepare the site for construction, the men’s gym will be taken down later this summer. During the
construction phase, the old library will still be in use. ( http://www.lacitycollege.edu ) ( http://www.mwwlaphotoserver.com )
Steinberg Architects is providing programming and design services for the Martin Luther King Jr. Library at LA City College, one
of nine campuses within the nation´s largest community college district. This new facility will define the nothwest corner of the
college´s urban campus, and is designed to house stae-of-the-art electronic classrooms, computer clusters, study spaces and
administrative offices in addition to special collections areas. Strategically located service and reference desks are easily located and
highlighted with color to address staffing and wayfinding, while flexible classroom and gathering spaces address student needs for
study areas. Individual study areas are interpersed throughout the building and group study rooms have been located to take
advantage of sweeping views of the Hollywood Hills. Each floor maintains maximum flexibility because the structural design
removed all interior shear walls. The planning and design process for the MLK Library was a collaborative one, and included input
from district, campus, library and community representatives. Additionally, the facility incorporates a variety of sustainable
strategies such as large windows on the north and south elevations for maximum daylighting. ( Steinberg)
Evergreen Valley College Learning and Technical Center, San José, CA – USA 2004
76.700 sqf., € 25.000.000
Awards:
2005 Best Higher Education Project
Best of 2005 California Construction
2004 Award of Honor Community College Facility Coalition
As the pivotal component in a highly cohesive campus environment, the 76.000 sqf. Evergreen Valley College Library and
Educational Technology Center combines three formerly disparate despartments into a singular gateway facility accentuated by
outdoor rooms and plazas. Through an exploration of shared program opportunities for the three primary departments, Steinberg
Architects developed a design that promotes crossfertilization between staff, students and curriculum. Smooth transitions between
adjacencies ensure the greatest possible use of space. A shared main entrance permits easy access to each of the departments, and the
lobby and conference room can be utilized by the community for special events. By placing the camputer lab on the ground floor and
lowering its ceiling, the library serves as a focul point featuring high ceilings, large windows and dramatic exposed structural
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