New Library in Monrovia, CA, Opens

After a year of construction, the new 28,000-square-foot Monrovia Library in Monrovia, CA, has opened. The library, which was designed by Gonzalez Goodale Architects, is situated in Library Park, the iconic center of the city’s downtown area, and includes a sustainable design with unique and innovative features. It community members almost 10 years to fund and plan the building, which was built with a $16 million bond passed by the citizens of Monrovia.

“The money raised by the levy reflects the pride in this community of having its library in the heart of downtown,” says David Goodale, design principal at Gonzalez Goodale. “So, it’s fitting that the new library has a large community meeting room that can be used for public events and gatherings whether the library proper is open or closed.”

The new Monrovia Library features a central circulation hall with skylight that is flanked by a children’s wing on one side and an adult wing on the other. The inside of the building features a sustainable cork flooring, carpets that contain up to 49 percent pre-consumer recycled contact, low- or no-VOC paint and sealants, recyclable furniture, and energy-efficient lighting. Additionally, the steel used in construction contains at least 25 percent recycled materials, the HVAC system is a high-efficiency one, and the building features a cool roof to reflect the sun’s energy away from the building. The library, along with the library park, are Monrovia’s first U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED^®-certified facilities. The city is seeking LEED Silver certification for the library.

The grounds surrounding the library building also includes sustainable features, including landscaping that has been designed for water conservation. Two nearly century-old trees also preside over the landscape, allowing the library to be very much a piece of the surrounding park-scape.