bws | Architects
Sierra Vista Library
City of Sierra Vista, Arizona
The mountainous geology of Cochise County inspired the steeply sloped copper roofs and striated concrete walls of the Sierra Vista Public Library. The projecting walls and roofs protect the south- and southwest-facing windows from direct sun, and yet allow the building to open up to the beautiful gardens and mountain views. With a mechanical system that employs evaporative cooling and air conditioning as the environmental conditions dictate, this building is remarkably energy-efficient, and won the Governor’s Energy Award in 2000.
Replacing an old library, which we in turn remodeled into a senior center, we applied a highly collaborative and interactive design process on this project. We developed nine alternative designs for the library that we explored with the community in public meetings. The options ranged from fairly traditional architecture that reflected the existing facilities to more contemporary approaches that responded to the site, the region and the climate. There was strong support for a bold, innovative approach that responded directly to the environment and the mountains.
