Ingleside Branch Library

Location

San Francisco, California

Owner

City of San Francisco

Project Dates

2009

Services Provided

Cost Estimating

Scheduling

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The new library features an expanded collection of material, a teen room, a children’s area with window seats and a skylight, plus a program room accessible after hours for community meetings. The new 6,100-square-foot branch provides a prominent civic presence on Ocean Avenue, adding to the revitalization of this commercial strip at the nexus of a diverse community. The robust, light-filled, and sustainable architectural design highlights the virtues and aspirations of this community: valuing the accessibility of knowledge and education to everyone. The most striking element of the front façade of the new branch library, positioned prominently at the corner, is an egg-shaped children’s reading room with a large, bench-seat window that encourages the use of the library by younger patrons. The children’s room is capped by a high canopy roof, extending over the entry and the lower community room along Ocean Avenue. The new branch offers more public computers, wireless access, and self-checkout machines and also has a flexible design to accommodate future technologies. The sloped ceiling of the space is capped with giant skylights coaxing sunlight deep into the room.