$12M Los Gatos Library Well Under Way

It has been six months since the groundbreaking for the new and long-awaited Los Gatos Library. The 30,000-square-foot, eco-friendly building won't open until early 2012, but it is already set to receive national kudos and the support of the Los Gatos community.

"The library will be the first new public building in the last 25 years in Los Gatos," Town Manager Greg Larson said. "Others have been renovated, but none have been built from the ground up."

The $12 million project was designed by Noll & Tam Architects of Berkeley, and its architectural renderings show a library that is a visual feast. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows will allow expansive views from the outdoors into a two-story interior designed to capture natural light. In contrast to the glass, the building's exterior also features low-maintenance, sand-toned textured porcelain tile. An unusual  "pop-out" space with red-toned wood is another prominent focal point facing the street.

Inside the library, a two-story glass wall, designed by artist Sheri Simons, is adjacent to the staircase. Muted colors cover the glass, along with letters, phrases, musical notations and scientific formulae, some visible only at certain angles.

The current 14,000-square-foot library opened in 1964. It was the growth of Los Gatos—from 9,000 residents in 1964 to nearly 29,000 in the 2000 census—that solidified the need for a new library.

In 2007, the Civic Center/Library Master Plan was adopted, and the Los Gatos Redevelopment Agency obtained funding through redevelopment bonds. In early 2010, Bogard Construction of Santa Cruz submitted the low bid of $12 million, which, Larson said, was $2 million under the estimated cost.

With the low bid, the town has now budgeted for solar roof panels. The project also includes numerous energy-saving and sustainable features, including sun control systems on the south, east and west windows; low-flow fixtures to reduce water consumption; FSC wood, certified by the Forest Stewardship Council; and glazing to maximize sunlight and reduce electricity use for interior lighting. A bioswale to filter and drain storm water naturally will be part of the landscaping, and native and drought-tolerant plants will reduce the need for frequent irrigation.

Each environmental feature contains a number of points set by the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED certification system, which measures a building's sustainability. The higher the point count, the higher the certification.

"We expect to receive Leed's Gold Certification," said Assistant Town Manager Pamela Jacobs.

The plan also includes a large area to hold extensive history collections, a teen area showcased by the pop-out space at the front of the building, at least 60 computers and a coffee café.  

On the first level, the children's library takes up the west wing. Again thanks to the low bid, a Children's Garden adjacent to Pageant Park is now also in the budget. A retaining wall in the form of a 7-foot-high relief in the shape of book spines has already been constructed. The spines will eventually contain the names of classic children's books. Nearby, ABCs will be prominent on 18-inch-high colored concrete seats.

Since the budget covers only construction-related costs, Carol Hamilton, president of the 900-member Friends of the Library group, has said the Friends will begin a public campaign in 2011 for donations. Their goal is $2.1 million for furniture, fixtures and computer equipment.

On Dec. 6, a "Topping Out" ceremony was held as the final piece of steel was placed on the approximately 40-foot building. The event is a milestone in the construction process, and, by tradition, the steelworkers and the public signed their names on the beam, which featured a Christmas tree and a U.S. flag.

"This project has been long in coming," Town Mayor Joe Pirzynski said. "This is going to be a real hallmark for our community. It will become a gathering place. Our current library is inadequate for our growing community."