Libraries

This replacement building includes six libraries - Arts and Letters; Science and Technology; Business and Economics; Music; Education; Film and Television. Each library occupies a distinct location marked by a unique portal. Every portal is a symbolic representation of the disciplines. 

The library was planned to be readily understandable, with an inviting entry leading to circulation desk, reference desk, quick look-up stations and elevators and stairs to allow easy access to upper floors. 

The building was conceived as the intellectual heart of the campus—a place where knowledge is plentiful and easily accessible.

AC Martin, in association with Hillier Architecture, designed the new library at California State University, Fresno, home to the largest collection of volumes in California’s Central Valley. The design provided innovative solutions to the existing library’s limited capacity for its rapidly expanding collections.

The 283,000 GSF addition and 80,000 GSF renovation of the university library was a collaborative effort between AC Martin, Hillier Architecture, and CSU Fresno Librarian and President of the American Library Association, Michael Gorman. The team fused their collective expertise to create the ‘library of the future’, a building that brings together students and residents from the surrounding community.

The library provides more than just a learning experience for students, faculty and the Fresno community; it is a destination containing a variety of special spaces. One such space is the large translucent sculpture at the entrance which creates a strong exterior image and defines the library’s source of organization. Other features include a café on the second level and a rooftop terrace adjacent to University administrative offices.

The library has primarily open floor plans, but incorporates a variety of seating areas, including comfortable places tucked away where patrons can retreat for quiet reading and studying and built-in seating on the grand staircase.

Situated on the central campus adjacent to the Peace Garden, a unique feature of the library is its entirely transparent façade on the north elevation, which allows abundant light into the building while providing a beautiful view of the garden. Extensive use of natural daylight, natural ventilation and the use of recycled products during construction has resulted in a highly sustainable building.

Library experts at AC Martin and Hillier Architecture understood that the ‘library of the future’ must use technology to enhance rather than replace traditional library functions. The technological innovation employed in the new library aids librarians in creating a more efficient system and helps patrons utilize resources more effectively. Technological innovations include embedded microchips for book tracking, advanced cataloguing databases to simplify the research process, and compact moveable stacks that create more space for the library’s ever-expanding collection of volumes.

The new library is a powerful resource for the University and the surrounding Fresno community. It is a significant landmark that informs the campus plan and shapes the future of California Sate University, Fresno. The fusion of cutting-edge technology and traditional library values has resulted in a facility with the potential to redefine library design in the next century.

The design for the Library and Learning Center on the campus of Rio Hondo College, is a response to the building program, the master plan for the college, the site topography and natural amenities of the area. The new structure was also designed to seamlessly blend with the context and character of the existing campus.

The campus master plan anticipated a significant entry for the building on axis with the existing lower quad. The building entry is on this axis and was developed as a visible beacon, both during daylight hours and at night. This main entry leads to a two-story, day lit, atrium space. Within the atrium is a resin “curtain,” rising two stories within the space. The curtain adds a tremendous amount of interest to the space, as well as aiding noise control from the atrium into the library. The curtain also helps to define the periodical reading space located directly behind it to the south. 

Both floors are organized by a main corridor, or boulevard. On the library floor the curving clerestory lit boulevard ends in a grand reading room with views to spectacular landscapes to the west and north. The south facing stacks and reading spaces respond to the organic nature of the topography with a gently curving glass wall that takes advantage of the views and daylight. This space has a sloped ceiling with exposed structure to create a dramatic sense of place.

The Naslund Study Lounge at the Armacost Library offers students a comfortable “home away from home.” The design of this 8,700 SF entry addition features the ‘Grand Living Room’ gathering space as the formal entrance to the newly renovated campus library. It was important to maintain the library’s circulation and operations while giving the students a much-needed place to study, collaborate, and hang out. The look and feel of the ‘Grand Living Room’ had to reflect the University’s classic, timeless aesthetic while being modern, youthful and relevant to the students.

Library users are welcomed with custom-designed furniture, lamps and ottomans that can be quickly rearranged, creating a highly flexible gathering space. The grand staircase leading into the space includes double-height steps lined with floor pillows on either side of the center circulation, providing more informal lounge and study space. The study lounge includes computer labs, classrooms, group study rooms and a café. Open 24 hours a day, this library entry way has become a destination unto itself—a memorable space and image for the University.

The initial intent for this project was an MEP upgrade and replacement, but the University decided to take the opportunity to upgrade and reposition Payson Library to become more of an enhanced student experience—a destination for students to interact socially and academically.

The Library decided to shift its approach with the renovation—specifically, to make the Special Collections museum-quality and better known. Goals include a state-of-the-art restoration and training program to care for their unique archives. This new approach was refined through many stakeholder workshops.

The renovation provides several levels of study space, ranging from vibrant interactive areas to be used for lectures, to private break-out rooms for small groups or private study. These are flexible spaces that can provide the differing levels of privacy desired by users. The intent is for Payson Library to become the students’ “third place” on campus— a place where students spend time between home (dorms) and work (study). It will be a place where students can interact, exchange ideas, build relationships, and be part of the total student experience.

This project provides major tenant improvements to Fullerton’s original Pollak library building which is a 1966 Modernist six-story concrete building with a basement. Our team provided complete re-programming of all floors as part of CSU’s Library of the Future initiative, tenant improvement packages to levels one, four and five, as well as HVAC modernization and life safety upgrades. Improvements include: adding new windows to the existing pre-cast concrete panels on floors 2-6, overhaul of mechanical systems, updated restroom cores and elevator lobbies, miscellaneous accessibility improvements, LED lighting, and new interior finishes throughout. The improvements were conducted via design-build delivery through multiple contract packages and stages.