The new Riverside Municipal Library is situated on a 2.5-acre municipal site east of Market Street on Mission Inn Avenue, within walking distance of the historic Mission Inn and the city’s cultural and commercial districts.
The two-story building rests atop a towering 36-foot tall concrete bridge pier, creating an 8,900 square foot shaded outdoor public plaza beneath. This plaza serves as the entrance to the Phase II trail and is designed as a vibrant community hub.
The covered square will host a variety of events including evening performances, weekly farmers’ markets, book fairs, and other community gatherings. Surrounding the plaza are urban archives, community activity rooms, and the Friends of the Library bookstore.
From this elevated vantage point, visitors can enjoy sweeping views of the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains to the north. Such panoramic vistas are rare for most residents unless they live or work in high-rise buildings.
The third floor features a 35-foot high volume space with a dome ceiling that runs the length of the room, complementing the expansive north-south windows.
The adult reading room and collection are located on the fourth floor, offering broad north-south views and visual connection to the third-floor entrance level below. This floor also houses a local history reading room furnished with pieces from the 1903 Carnegie Library in Riverside, several glass-enclosed group study rooms, and administrative offices for the Riverside library system.
The children’s library acts as a gateway for young visitors to explore the vast world through thoughtfully arranged books and interactive features. The space is adorned with vibrant, saturated colors on the ceilings and walls, alongside lighting designed to mimic the whimsical glow of a Ferris wheel or carousel, evoking the charm of an amusement park.
Storytime, singing, games, arts, and crafts all take place beneath this illuminated canopy, inspiring creativity and curiosity.
The concrete bridge piers encase the building’s mechanical systems and support a 34-meter span, forming an 827 square meter shaded plaza below. Riverside’s summer temperatures often soar above 40°C (104°F), making this shaded area a vital community space.
During the day, the plaza hosts farmers’ markets, food trucks, book fairs, and other activities. At night, it transforms into an outdoor theater and event space, complementing adjacent community meeting rooms.
The library’s main entrance is accessed via a glass and mirrored elevator located near the center of the plaza. This plaza also serves as the northern terminus of Green Avenue.
With the completion of Library Square development, Green Avenue will connect Mission Inn Avenue and University Avenue, while the Library Square itself is designed as a full city block real estate development.
Project Drawings
△ General Site Plan
△ First Floor Plan
△ Second Floor Plan
△ Third Floor Plan
△ Fourth Floor Plan
△ Detail Plan of Fourth Floor
△ Detail Plan of Fourth Floor
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Diagram
△ Diagram
Project Information
Architectural Design: Johnson Favaro
Area: 40,000 square meters
Year: 2021
Photographer: Eric Laignel
Manufacturers: Bega, Kawneer, Lumenpulse, Sto Crop
Project Architects and Creators: Steve Johnson, Jim Favaro
Co-Creator: Brian Davis
Design Assistant: Kevin Geraghty
Location: Riverside, United States
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