................................................................

LOS ANGELES PIERCE COLLEGE LIBRARY RENOVATION

The three-story building, constructed in 1959 and added to in 1977, is located at the main pedestrian intersection of campus. The 35,000 square foot library occurs primarily on the second and third floors. Built into a hill, the basement level opens to the north where it is entered from the main campus Mall. An open court on the second floor and a level change on the third floor separate the two halves of the library. Dropped acoustical ceilings added in the 1990’s reduced the height of the original volume of the interior and enclosed the third floor book stacks; obscuring any visual connection between floors. Many under-sized stairs and an elevator are difficult to find. The main approach to the second floor reveals a copy machine, and the service points are awkwardly oriented for users and a limited staff.

The $4 million project proposes major re-organization of interior spaces to consolidate and clarify service points; make the books visible when entering the main floor; provide easy, visible access to the books and between floors; and create spatial continuity between the 1959 library and 1977 addition.

00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04