Riverside Public Library
New Main Library
February 5, 2019 – City Council awarded Bid 7624 and construction agreement, to Icon West, Inc., of Los Angeles, CA, to construct the new Main Library.
March 18, 2019 1:30PM – Groundbreaking
March 25, 2019 – Construction Begins
Summer 2020 – Anticipated Opening
Architect – Johnson Favaro
Contractor – Icon West
New Main Library Rendering
The new Main Library will be a 2-story library lifted approximately 30 feet off the ground to allow for an arcade space under the library building. The ground floor is activated by the outdoor arcade space, a Friends of the Library Bookstore space, a 100 seat community room and a 2-story City Archive. Total square footage for the Library is approximately 42,000.
Facade & West Rendering
Visible from this angle are the ground floor community room and the second story outdoor reading terrace and event space. Housing the community room outside of the library proper will make it accessible after-hours for events. The outdoor space is connected to the Library by large glass windows and doors to allow for a joined interior and exterior private event space when the Library is closed. Customers on the terrace or on the second floor of the Library will have views of the San Gabriel Mountains and Mount Rubidoux.
Facade & East Rendering
Visible from this angle is the arcade space that can be used for author signings, youth performances, farmers markets, concerts, and family festivals. Additionally, there is the Friends of the Library Bookstore space and the two story City Archive. The City Archive will bring together the majority of the City of Riverside’s archival material currently held by various departments. The Archive is a two story space with a first floor reading room and a second floor dedicated to storage of the collections.
