community gathering spot expresses look and feel of redondo beach 

Located in downtown Redondo Beach, California, the contemporary red façade and playful palette of this community library make a bold statement. The open, user-friendly layout is clean and spacious, with a playful palette of lime green, red, yellow and blue punctuating the otherwise neutral, airy space. There are reading and tutoring rooms, a community room, and plenty of spaces for studying.

Designed with a sustainable focus, the building features a roof design that forces rainwater to flow to the end of the parking lot, where it can be collected in a retention basin; the use of site orientation and windows which take advantage of daylighting; and a landscaping plan that includes shade trees and drought-tolerant plants and grasses. 

The overall effect is impactful, but it was designed and built on a modest budget. Every element of North Branch Library was developed via a collaborative process which engaged community residents and stakeholders. The extensive sustainable design elements led to LEED-Gold certification of the building.