Design Summary

 

The guiding concept for the Cerritos Library was the “Experience Library”. This experience was expressed in a series of themed elements that honored Southern California Architectural Periods and are organized along a Main Street concept.  The young adult area and collection are housed in the Mid-20th Century themed area.  This area showcased the music and video collections. These collections were relocated to other parts of the library which added a 2,500 square foot area to the young adult library for a dedicated teen studio.

 

Positioned on the first floor at the North West corner, this area has exceptional indirect natural lighting found nowhere else in the library. This natural lighting condition along with the existing glass wall and metal gates led the design team to develop a “California Garden Studio” concept.

 

The “California Garden Studio” concept is in keeping with the Mid-20th Century theme of this area and is a natural transition from the adjacent space.  Utilizing the idea of an outdoor space, the theme was expanded, developed and encouraged with the introduction of succulent plants popular in the 50’s and 60’s.  The roughhewn wood flooring, natural reed column materials and succulent imagery used on the tables and the media wall all work to reinforce the “California Garden Studio” concept.

 

The Teen Studio is fully accessible and has 66 seating capacity, five areas are offered for group study from 4 to 8 people, there are 14 lounge / relaxed seats and 18 dedicated computer stations. The space also has two high definition digital posters and a multi screened touch screen media wall, along with two multi-person touch screen display tables with internet capabilities. Internet connectivity is available for personal laptop / notebook connections through plug-in or WIFI access.