Glendale Public Library - Public Park Branch Prototype, Glendale, California
From Archiplanet
 | Glendale Public Library System - Branch Prototype, Public Park |
| Designer | West Edge Architects, Peter M. Mitsakos & Associates, Marina del Rey, California, USA |
| Location | Glendale, California, USA |
| Date | 2007 |
| Building Type | Library |
| Climate | Moderate - mild winters, warm-hot summers |
| Context | Public Park |
| Architectural Style | Contemporary |
| Street Address | |
| Notes | Winner of AIA Pasadena Foothill 2008 Merit Award
West Edge Architects developed two prototype branches for the City to illustrate the shift in library function and current trends; please also see Glendale Public Library System - Branch Prototype, Parking Lot. |
Contents |
[edit] Images
Entrance and Lawn Expanse |
 View From Street |
 Main Entry and Passage Beneath Lawn/Roof |
 Main Entry Concourse |
 Central Forum |
 View to the Outdoors |
[edit] Discussion
| Building Details | |
| Client | City of Glendale, California |
| Cost | $16 million (estimated) |
| Area | 20,000 Square Feet |
| Stories | one |
“Its a Park, Its a Library” - The proposed design takes advantage of the slight grade change across the site to reduce the dimension between the roof level and the adjacent grade on the park side. As a result, the park’s lawn rolls simply up onto the roof of the library, minimizing the presence of the building from the park side. The slight slopes are easily traversed, allowing the roof of the building to be utilized in much the same way the original park lawn is today.
Angled cut-outs in the shape of the building, dictated by the locations of the existing trees, allow natural light, filtered through the trees to permeate the entire interior of the building and provide views to the outdoors from almost everywhere in the facility. It also permits full exposure of the library’s activities through glass walls and open courts on the street side of the building.
Allowing the lawn to cover the roof of the building in order to preserve the use of the park also has an enormous positive impact in the energy management of the building. The lawn and soil, along with the mass of the concrete construction of the building help modulate the internal temperature of the interiors in relationship to the exterior temperatures and protect the spaces from radiant and conductive heat gain.
