The College requested a creative building solution; a signature building image that would identify the library and the growing college campus as high tech center for learning. The Client wanted a building that could change its image from hopeless to hopeful. Our belief is that architecture can be catalyst for change; it can inspire and motivate. The 45,000 s.f. library is in the center of the campus and will serve as the campus learning and social center. In a larger context the library was designed to be a point of destination for a historically under served region of Southern California. It was envisioned that the library would, one, serve as impetus for positive growth and two, develop a special research collection of documents that can only be viewed at this facility, thus making the Campus a point of destination. The Clients wanted a facility that could support their vision.
The design of the Library departed from the norm of looking inward in a library. Instead, it is transparent, open and day-lit. The solution for the Library is a direct response to the college's request for a program flexible column free universal space for both the reading room/stacks area and the second floor computer learning center. The unobstructed spans of the reading room, stacks area and the atrium were achieved by developing a three foot deep curved tube truss, with the top and bottom chords of the truss utilizing an 8 inch diameter extra strong curved steel tube. The two-dimensional truss vault of the reading room and atrium were designed to transfer lateral loading to a conventional moment resisting frame.
Compton Community College Learning Resources Center
1. The Library departs from the norm of looking inward in a library. Instead, it is
transparent, open and day-lit. Three foot deep curved tube trusses utilizing 8” diameter
DESIGN extra strong curved steel tubes were used to achieve the unobstructed two-story volume
of the main stack space. RAW’s resolve was to create design excellence to inspire
AWARD students to strive for their own excellence in learning and development.
WINNER
Our belief is that architecture can be catalyst for
change; it can inspire and motivate.
COMPTON
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE LEARNING
RESOURCES CENTER
Compton, California
-Reading Rooms
-Library Stack
-Computer Labs
-Offices
-Art Gallery
-Exterior Plazas
44,768 Square Feet
Completed in 2008
Estimated Cost:
$14,000,000
2. The College
requested a creative
building solution; a
signature building
image that would
identify the library
and the growing
college campus as
high tech center for
learning. The Client
wanted a building
that could change its
image from hopeless
to hopeful.
ARTESIA BLVD
3. The building's atrium space doubles as a social hub for the student body as
DESIGN well as an art gallery. The modular paneling has built-in tracks to hang
artwork. There is a dedicated art gallery that has an adjacent exterior plaza for
AWARD gathering during exhibits. The exterior plaza and the treatment of the west
WINNER entrance were designed to set precedence for the beginning of a main
boulevard and thoroughfare through the campus.
COMPTON
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE LEARNING
RESOURCES
CENTER
Compton, California
4. The solution for the Library is a direct response to the college's request for a
program flexible column free universal space for both the reading
room/stacks area and the second floor computer learning center. The
unobstructed spans of the reading room, stacks area and the atrium were
achieved by developing a three foot deep curved tube truss, with the top
and bottom chords of the truss utilizing an 8 inch diameter extra strong
curved steel tube. The two-dimensional truss vault of the reading room and
atrium were designed to transfer lateral loading to a conventional moment
resisting frame.
5. In a larger context the library was designed to be a point of destination for a
historically under served region of Southern California. It was envisioned
that the library would, one, serve as impetus for positive growth and
two, develop a special research collection of documents that can only be
viewed at this facility, thus making the Campus a point of destination.
