Mission Hills Library - San Diego, California

Neighborhood library designed to promote interaction and neighborhood pride. As part of a Civic Complex incorporating an existing fire station and a new bult community Civic Center. The project was to make a statement for the neighborhood and to draw visitors in from the main road, while its given location is nestled towards the back of the complex. Its main entrance on a residential side street was to be carefully considered. To complement the scale of existing residential buildings as it meets the side street (Hawk. St.), and while still maintaining a presence from the main road (Washington Blvd.), the Library features a floating "Skybox" that anchors the building on the residential street. A café is also incorporated into the library design to encourage neighborhood activity. The North façade was designed so as to maximize the amount of natural light coming into the building and to complement existing structures that echo the "Egyptian Style" deco period with a series of stepped back atriums that opens the building to the neighborhood.