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
| Jul 28, 2014
Reconstruction market benefits from improving economy, new technology [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Following years of fairly lackluster demand for commercial property remodeling, reconstruction revenue is improving, according to the 2014 Giants 300 report.
| Jul 28, 2014
Reconstruction Sector Construction Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Structure Tone, Turner, and Gilbane top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest reconstruction contractor and construction management firms in the U.S.
| Jul 28, 2014
Reconstruction Sector Engineering Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Jacobs, URS, and Wiss, Janney, Elstner top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest reconstruction engineering and engineering/architecture firms in the U.S.
| Jul 28, 2014
Reconstruction Sector Architecture Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Stantec, HDR, and HOK top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest reconstruction architecture and architecture/engineering firms in the U.S.
| Jul 23, 2014
Architecture Billings Index up nearly a point in June
AIA reported the June ABI score was 53.5, up from a mark of 52.6 in May.
| Jul 21, 2014
Economists ponder uneven recovery, weigh benefits of big infrastructure [2014 Giants 300 Report]
According to expert forecasters, multifamily projects, the Panama Canal expansion, and the petroleum industry’s “shale gale” could be saving graces for commercial AEC firms seeking growth opportunities in an economy that’s provided its share of recent disappointments.
| Jul 18, 2014
Contractors warm up to new technologies, invent new management schemes [2014 Giants 300 Report]
“UAV.” “LATISTA.” “CMST.” If BD+C Giants 300 contractors have anything to say about it, these new terms may someday be as well known as “BIM” or “LEED.” Here’s a sampling of what Giant GCs and CMs are doing by way of technological and managerial innovation.
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Construction Management Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Jacobs, Barton Malow, Hill International top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest construction management and project management firms in the United States.
| Jul 18, 2014
Top Contractors [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Turner, Whiting-Turner, Skanska top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest contractors in the United States.
| Jul 18, 2014
Engineering firms look to bolster growth through new services, technology [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Following solid revenue growth in 2013, the majority of U.S.-based engineering and engineering/architecture firms expect more of the same this year, according to BD+C’s 2014 Giants 300 report.
