College of the Desert Hilb Library

Keeping the iconic epicenter to the College of the Desert Campus was important to protect the architectural history and vernacular of the campus and community. The campus’s original design was by architect John Carl Warnecke in 1964. LPA’s renovation of this two-story over a basement, 67,000 square foot Hilb Library has re-establish the existing main campus core as the center of student learning and activity. The newly renovated Hilb Library Building has been renovated to seismically enhance the concrete structure and houses the library collection, associated library services and computer labs, offices, reading areas and passive and active collaboration spaces. The integrated design team re-envisioned the very solid concrete building to be more open and transparent while at the same time protecting the buildings original character by replacing the heavy concrete window covers with light weight perforated aluminum window screens to assist with lateral seismic and wind loads.

The project also includes renovation to Building C, a single-story building that houses the College President’s Suite and a new District Board Room.

2022 CCFC Citation Award.