Otay Mesa
Branch Library

City of San Diego

Area: 10,000 s.f.

Cost: $1,200,000

Occupancy: 1985

Capacity: 45,000 volumes

With the Otay Mesa Branch Library, form and function are masterfully integrated. Numerous architectural elements serve to capture natural sunlight and ocean breezes. Dramatic vistas provide an inspirational setting. Serving as a source of community pride, as well as a valuable resource center, the 10,000 s.f. Otay Mesa Branch Library accommodates three primary areas: a reading room, a community meeting hall and several employee work stations. The reading room utilizes large book stacks as partitions, creating zones for adults and children. Large, panoramic windows at the north face of the reading room offer relaxing views of a landscaped meadow. Designed in harmony with its setting, the Otay Mesa Branch Library features unique architectural elements such as a sawtooth roof that maximizes the building's energy efficiency. The roof''s design creates a chimney effect, drawing in cool sea breezes while ventilating excess heat that rises to the ceiling. The overall result is an award-winning project that stands as one of the truly ouststanding public libraries in San Diego.