Carmel Mountain Ranch Community Library

The Carmel Mountain Ranch Library was completed in San Diego, California, to high expectations and enthusiastic response from the design and library community. The building ventures into unusual territory, experimenting with natural light, natural ventilation and outdoor spaces integrated into the operation of the building. The sum total of these design concepts result in an unusual building form that has become a community landmark. The library is at the centre of Carmel Mountain Ranch, a newly‐planned community in the desert foothills north of San Diego. The architect was commissioned by the master community developer to design a building for the City of San Diego Library system. As a response to the hot climate of the area, the San Diego Gas and Electric Co’s energy conservation program, “Savings by Design” was used to design the air‐conditioning system combining mechanical and natural cooling. The library and its architect have been the recipients of local, state and national design awards from the American Institute of Architects and American Library Association.