A little toast to close out the year – and look to the future!
A couple weeks ago Group 4 held our annual Holiday Party in downtown San Francisco. This year’s Roaring Twenties theme queried our wardrobes for elaborate dresses, bowties/suspenders/vests, fanciful hats and headbands, and many combinations thereof. We were able to celebrate a spectacular 2019, and look forward to an equally promising 2020.
Here are some highlights from the past year:
- San Jose’s Environmental Innovation Center earns LEED Platinum, with the installation of on-site photovoltaic cells. This last step was a coordinated effort with the City and design team several years after the project first opened.
- Innovative, new community spaces: in Olathe, KS, with the opening of the Indian Creek Library, co-designed with GouldEvans; in Dublin, CA, with the opening of the BLVD Recreation Center; and at Skyline College in San Bruno, CA, with the completion of the new STEM Center.
- Design of Chabot College’s Library & Learning Connections building, with design partners HMC and extensive student, staff, and stakeholder input, to become a new campus landmark and center for learning, gathering, and growth.
- Unanimous approval of Library Facilities Master Plans in Lexington, KY; St. Charles County, MO; and Cincinnati, OH.
- Facilitation of design thinking sessions for Next Library in Aarhus, Denmark (exploring global connectedness and systemic problem solving), and Library Journal’s Design Institute (working with Eagle, ID, Public Library to equip their building for rapid population growth).
- Last but certainly not least, recognition of Dayton Main Library by Library Journal’s New Landmark Libraries program. A product of its community, with resources and tools for downtown revitalization, integrated local artwork and views, and dynamic programming, Dayton Main is boldly leading education and cultural development for the region.
There’s plenty more to look forward to in 2020!
- The January grand opening of Elk Grove’s Community, Senior, and Veterans Center and Commons will be the latest addition to the City’s 56-acre Civic Center campus. The Center targets LEED Gold Zero Net Energy performance and harmonious integration with its site and civic neighbors.
- Later in the year Yorba Linda will celebrate the opening of its Library and Cultural Arts Center, complete with outdoor paseo and programming, contributing unique public spaces to a redeveloping downtown.
- Burlingame’s new Community Center will soon enter construction and join the recently completed neighboring playground in Washington Park.
…And many more celebrations to come! Until then, hats off to wonderful collaborative efforts that are cultivating connection and wonder. Happy New Year!
