Steel work begins for the new Main Library in Long Beach

The City of Long Beach, in collaboration with Plenary-Edgemoor Civic Partners celebrated the start of steel work for the new Main Library.

The new Main Library, expected to be completed in June 2019, will be a state-of-the-art 92,500-square-foot facility and will feature many amenities, including community spaces, collaborative workrooms, an expanded studio makerspace, an enhanced children’s library, separate library areas for teens and adults, and plenty of technology.

It will be located on the northern end of the revitalized Lincoln Park and will feature glassy facades for the infusion of natural light.

The new Main Library is part of the new Long Beach Civic Center, a US$520 million project, to bring a revitalized civic core to downtown to serve residents and businesses, attract visitors and provide safe and efficient city operations.

The building will include many sustainable features that will contribute to its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold rating, including a large solar area across the roof that will generate all the library’s power as well as some of the new City Hall and new port building consumption.

City Council approved Plenary-Edgemoor Civic Partners to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the new civic center for the next 40 years. The project includes a new City Hall, Port Headquarters, Main Library and revitalized Lincoln Park.

Read the City of Long Beach’s news release.