Built in 1909, the San Rafael Downtown Library remains a civic anchor. This renovation brings the building forward while restoring the character that made it meaningful in the first place. A central focus was the return of the original Carnegie reading room. A 1960s renovation had removed much of its detail. The design carefully restores those features, bringing back the scale, light, and material quality of the historic space.
The entry lobby and Children’s Room are refreshed to better support how the library is used today. Interior updates include new walls, doors, ceilings, glazing, and finishes, paired with full upgrades to HVAC, lighting, telecommunications, and plumbing systems. A new interior lift provides full ADA access throughout the building.
San Rafael, CA
Location
12,500 SF
Size
$3M
Construction Budget
Completed
Status
IDA Structural
Structural
Capital Engineering
Mechanical/ Plumbing/Fire
O’Mahony & Myer, Inc.
Electrical/Lighting/Telecom
BKF Engineers
Civil
TBD Consulting
Cost Estimating
San Rafael, CA
Location
12,500 SF
Size
$3M
Construction Budget
Completed
Status
IDA Structural
Structural
Capital Engineering
Mechanical/ Plumbing/Fire
O’Mahony & Myer, Inc.
Electrical/Lighting/Telecom
BKF Engineers
Civil
TBD Consulting
Cost Estimating
Built in 1909, the San Rafael Downtown Library remains a civic anchor. This renovation brings the building forward while restoring the character that made it meaningful in the first place. A central focus was the return of the original Carnegie reading room. A 1960s renovation had removed much of its detail. The design carefully restores those features, bringing back the scale, light, and material quality of the historic space.
The entry lobby and Children’s Room are refreshed to better support how the library is used today. Interior updates include new walls, doors, ceilings, glazing, and finishes, paired with full upgrades to HVAC, lighting, telecommunications, and plumbing systems. A new interior lift provides full ADA access throughout the building.
Christopher Noll
