SPC Jesus S. Duran Eastside Library takes shape in Riverside, CA

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Kevin Nyhoff and J. Brandon Dekker

January 9, 2024

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We are proud to be partnering with the City of Riverside in California to design the new SPC Jesus S. Duran Eastside Library.  

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The library's transparent design makes the activity inside highly visible and inspires community members who see or enter the building.

A full-service library serving the needs of Riverside’s culturally diverse Eastside neighborhood, the library is anchored in SPC Jesus Duran’s (a US Medal of Honor recipient from the community) commitment to service and youth mentorship. The project is another key piece in Riverside’s ongoing effort to bridge the digital divide across its community and create accessible hubs for learning, innovation and connectivity. 

Stemming from deep stakeholder engagement and three initial exploratory concepts, the design establishes the library as a beacon of light, opportunity, connectivity, and vibrancy for the community. The uniquely curved building is remarkably transparent and energy efficient thanks to a glazed façade featuring an exterior solar shade screen with a computationally designed pattern that celebrates Riverside’s rich culture. 

Testimonials

  • This project speaks to why we are so passionate about the power of design. Not only can it be beautiful, but it can also empower a community with key resources and provide space for joy, connections, learning and individual agency. We are grateful to the City of Riverside for entrusting us with this opportunity and for the impact it represents to the community.”

    Knyhoff
    Kevin Nyhoff Design Principal

Modern programming equips the 15,000-sf building with highly adaptable indoor and outdoor maker spaces, separate children’s, teen and adult sections, multipurpose rooms and more. Radially aligned library stacks provide unobstructed views throughout the building, connecting users to the surrounding site and the activity within the building. 

The consistent use and rhythm of V-shaped chevron brace columns elevates a functional response to the high seismic requirements of the building into a creative, dynamic and defining element of the architecture.

SPC Jesus S. Duran Eastside Library rendering
The library is visually striking inside and out. The v-shaped columns are structural and sculptural all at once. Color, learning and strong visual pathways define the interior space.
SPC Jesus S. Duran Eastside Library rendering
The library is full of important spaces that increase access to literary resources and community activity.
SPC Jesus S. Duran Eastside Library rendering
The library is full of important spaces that increase access to literary resources and community activity.
SPC Jesus S. Duran Eastside Library rendering
The library is full of important spaces that increase access to literary resources and community activity.

The interior continues the minimalist white palette of the exterior with pops of bright color and texture through furniture selections and bold artwork and mural installations from Riverside’s exciting local art scene. 

SPC Jesus S. Duran Eastside Library rendering
The project features dynamic art murals from Riverside's local artists.

Beyond the building: A community hub

More than just a vibrant new library, the Jesus S. Duran Library also establishes a multi-dimensional community hub.  
 
Purposely sited in a supportive position to Riverside’s prominent and historic Cesar Chavez Community Center, the library establishes key synergies and a welcoming plaza of shared space. The building’s curvilinear roof transforms into a delicate perforated shade canopy over an exterior patio as it extends toward the community center. This move further opens and activates the space for the city’s library, parks, recreation, and community members to all use.

SPC Jesus S. Duran Eastside Library rendering
The attached pavilion creates untapped opportunities for events and engagement. It is a welcoming space for the library and the adjacent community center, creating a hub for community life.
SPC Jesus S. Duran Eastside Library rendering
The purposeful siting of the library and the synergies it creates with the community center unleash untapped potential. This is now an epicenter for community - farmer's markets, social events, neighborhood meetings are all possible.
SPC Jesus S. Duran Eastside Library rendering
The purposeful siting of the library and the synergies it creates with the community center unleash untapped potential. This is now an epicenter for community - farmer's markets, social events, neighborhood meetings are all possible.
SPC Jesus S. Duran Eastside Library rendering
The purposeful siting of the library and the synergies it creates with the community center unleash untapped potential. This is now an epicenter for community - farmer's markets, social events, neighborhood meetings are all possible.

Moreover, the design ensures the existing parking lot will be reimagined as a welcoming plaza with enhanced lighting and parking solutions. This space will become a fantastic opportunity for connection and programmed civic events. 

We are proud to bring our full-service team to this project, helping the City of Riverside with architectural design, sustainability consulting, full-service engineering, library planning, lighting design, cost estimating and more. 

The new SPC Jesus S. Duran Eastside Library is an infusion of community vibrancy in the heart of Riverside; A building and an opportunity for an even brighter civic future. 

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