On January 26, the 15,000-sf Mission Hills-Hillcrest Harley & Bessie Knox Library in San Diego opened to the public. The $17.9 million, one-story facility, whose construction was officially completed on February 5, is four times larger than the former library branch, and is serving the Mission Hills and Hillcrest neighborhoods.
This is the fourth library project in the San Diego area constructed by general contractor C.W. Driver, which also celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. “As with any of our civic projects, the C.W. Driver team is proud to construct a sustainable building that leaves a lasting impression on the local community,” said Andy Feth, C.W. Driver’s project executive.
The Mission Hills-Hillcrest library was built from bridging documents, and designed to meet LEED Gold standards. (There’s a solar-panel array on its roof and drought-tolerant plants on the grounds.) The building includes a 30,000-sf, two-story underground parking garage with 85 parking spaces, 76 more than the previous library.
The Mission Hills-Hillcrest library combines craftsman and contemporary architectural styles. Image: Brady Architectural Photography
The library’s design, by Ferguson Pape Baldwin Architects and Manuel Oncina Architects (the latter being AOR), combines craftsman and contemporary. Its Mission-style entry leads visitors to a lobby with 25-ft-tall ceilings, trusses, trellises and a skylight, which flow into a reading room.
A community room, which opens onto a 1,400-sf outdoor patio, is the focal point for the library’s programming, which will include gatherings, hosted author talks, and civic events. One of the library’s first guest speakers was author Susan Orlean, who discussed her latest book, “The Library Book,” which recounts a 1986 fire that destroyed the Los Angeles Public Library and the role that libraries play in their communities.
The new library includes a 1,600-sf children's area. Image: Brady Architectural Photography
A 1,600-sf chlidren’s area has its own computer lab and themed storytime area. The library has a 384-sf teen area, 400-sf garden, large meeting room, four study rooms, and adult computer lab, and an “idea lab” with 3D printers and other technology. There is also retail space called the “Friends of the Library Room.”
Other Building Team members for the Mission Hills-Hillcrest project—which started with the demolition of the old International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers building in May 2017—include San Diego-based Architects Mosher Drew (Bridging Documents Architect), Snipes Dye Associates (CE), Van Dyke Landscape Architects (Landscape Architect), Coffman Engineers, Associate Mechanical Contractors, McParlane & Associates, Rowan Electric, ELEN Consulting, and Mechanical Building Optimization (Consulting Engineers).
The original Mission Hills library opened in 1961 with 3,850 sf of space. The new facility is named after Harley Knox, San Diego’s 25th Mayor, and his wife Bessie.
Related Stories
University Buildings | Feb 18, 2022
On-campus performing arts centers and museums can be talent magnets for universities
Cultural facilities are changing the way prospective students and parents view higher education campuses.
Resiliency | Feb 15, 2022
Design strategies for resilient buildings
LEO A DALY's National Director of Engineering Kim Cowman takes a building-level look at resilient design.
Cultural Facilities | Jan 27, 2022
Growth in content providers creates new demand for soundstage facilities
Relativity Architects' Partner Tima Bell discusses how the explosion in content providers has outpaced the availability of TV and film production soundstages in North America and Europe.
Cultural Facilities | Jan 18, 2022
A building in Times Square aspires to be a marketing and arts tool
The 580-ft TSX Broadway will have several LED signs on its exterior, and host an existing 27,000-sf theater that was hoisted 30 ft above street level.
Cultural Facilities | Dec 16, 2021
Museums and other cultural spaces reconsider how to serve their communities
Efforts to raise capital for cultural buildings became necessary during the COVID-19 health crisis.
Giants 400 | Nov 19, 2021
2021 Cultural Facilities Giants: Top architecture, engineering, and construction firms in the U.S. cultural facilities sector
Gensler, AECOM, Buro Happold, and Arup top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest cultural facilities sector architecture, engineering, and construction firms, as reported in the 2021 Giants 400 Report.
Cultural Facilities | Nov 19, 2021
Goettsch Partners completes Lincoln Park Zoo’s Pepper Family Wildlife Center
The project doubles the size of the previous lion habitat.
Cultural Facilities | Nov 17, 2021
Henning Larsen-designed Shaw Auditorium opens at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The project celebrated its grand opening as part of HKUST’s thirtieth anniversary celebration.
Cultural Facilities | Oct 19, 2021
Niagara Falls is getting a bigger Welcome Center
The GWWO Architects-designed building will mostly sit on the site of the center it replaces.
Reconstruction & Renovation | Oct 13, 2021
Restoration of Ramova Theater in Chicago’s Bridgeport Neighborhood begins
The building was originally built in 1929.