Library Creates a Wide Open Invitation to Knowledge

Project Name: Pico Rivera Library
Location: 9001 Mines Ave. Pico Rivera, CA 90660
Architect: Erik Mar

Image via Whittier Daily News

The new 16,000 square foot Pico Rivera Library is scheduled to host its grand opening this Saturday, December 14^th. Owned by the County of Los Angeles, this public library will achieve LEED Gold rating or higher, and will include 29 public computers, a meeting room with 80 seats, two group studies and three self-check machines. Adults and children will have individual reading courtyards with access to over 80,000 items in the library’s collection. According to Architect Erik Mar, the library includes four reading courtyards, three of which are open to the public. He adds “NanaWalls are based around courtyards and were used to create a seamless transition between the indoors and out.”

“NanaWall provides test data and much better hardware” explains Mar. Since the 30ft opening at the exterior gate will be opened and closed on a daily basis, the folding doors required good durable hardware and ease-of-use operation.

Solar panels provide both shade and building power to the entry front courtyard while the south sides of the adult and children’s courtyards gain shade through tall building volumes of 15ft and 20ft. The library also features a new Teen Space with café seating and a Family Place Early Literacy Program along with much, much more.  To learn more about the new library, stop by Saturday’s grand opening and share your thoughts and photos with us by tweeting to @nanawall. Be sure to bring all of your plastic bags and exchange them for a reusable bag (while supplies last) to support the Plastic Bag Recycling Drive! Below you’ll find the grand opening’s schedule.

Grand Opening Day Schedule:
9:30 am to 11 am: Performance by the Pico Rivera Jazz Band
10 am:  Dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting
11 am: (children's area): Family Storytime
11 am: (meeting room): Scott Carde and Erik Mar from Carde Ten Architects talk about the construction and features of the new library
1 pm to 3 pm: (teen area): Teen art activity – make a reusable bag
1 pm and 2 pm: (meeting room): Annie Banannie's Balloon Comedy Show (two performances)
3 pm (meeting room): Musical performances from Craig Newton and Ken Frawley
4 pm (children's area): Holiday caroling with Pico Rivera Tiny Tots