Rose Garden Library

On a site adjacent to San José’s historic Municipal Rose Garden, this new library facility comprises an elevated main floor over a ground-level parking garage, community room, and gallery. The design features a two-story entry element with glass walls, stone and metal cladding, and natural brick and teak siding. The interior features a sweeping ceiling over the main library and fireplace areas, allowing natural light to fill the space.

The use of brightly colored fabrics, brilliant graphic carpets, wood paneling, and substantial floor-to-ceiling glass creates a warm and inviting place to study or read. An internet cafe for computer studies is located adjacent to the family and children’s areas, which features an elliptical storytelling space under a central skylight. The lighting design makes ample use of natural light, minimizing the energy required for lighting and providing optimal reading conditions.

Considerable energy and water-efficient design features incorporated into the library include Thermafusers (a thermally powered diffuser system that offers individual temperature control while optimizing indoor air quality and saving energy); a high turndown ratio of supply air; high efficiency packaged units; a low-pressure drop design air delivery system; high-efficiency boilers for domestic water; daylighting and natural ventilation; and low flow plumbing fixtures.