Two new academic libraries in San Diego, California

Abstract

Describes the considerations taken into account when designing new buildings and how these shaped the design of two new academic libraries in San Diego. Following the principles that each library should serve its unique group of users; that the surrounding campus or site should influence the design; and that the new building should add to its campus or neighbourhood, the architects produced two very different library buildings. As part of a suburban campus‐based community college, Mesa College Learning Resource Center serves a large student body studying a wide range of subjects, and has been designed as a complex abstract composition of energetic forms in raw concrete. In contrast, California Western School of Law Library is on a small city campus and focuses on educating postgraduate law students. The new Library is described as a refined building of classical proportions and subtle detail. Gives details of both the interiors and exteriors of the two libraries and discusses how successful they have been in terms of meeting the differing needs of their users.