University Of California, Santa Barbara Library

University Of California, Santa Barbara Library

University of California, Santa Barbara Library

Pfeiffer, A Perkins Eastman Studio

STATUS
Built

AREA
300,000 Sqft - 500,000 Sqft

YEAR
2015

LOCATION
Santa Barbara, CA, United States

TYPE
Educational › Library University

University Of California, Santa Barbara Library
University Of California, Santa Barbara Library

Pfeiffer Partners had the opportunity to both renovate 160,700 sf of the 320,000 sf existing Davidson Library at UCSB and add 59,900 sf of collaborative student spaces.

University Of California, Santa Barbara Library
University Of California, Santa Barbara Library

Implementing the Pfeiffer prepared Detailed Project Program, the renewed library has already achieved UCSB’s goal of “reinventing the library’s role as the student hub on campus”.

The renovation and expansion has quickly transformed the library from a facility that housed the University’s large print collection to a place for students, focusing on research, learning, collaboration, socialization and knowledge creation. The result is a highly user-friendly layout, and a unified architectural character.

University Of California, Santa Barbara Library
University Of California, Santa Barbara Library

New infrastructure seamlessly supports the needs of the building, including the numerous additions that have occurred somewhat randomly over the more than five decades (1926-1978) since the library was initially opened.

The library provides new instructional spaces, group study rooms, seminar rooms and expanded open reading areas, as well as an interactive instruction lab, a digital media center, an indoor/outdoor cafe, special collections and a faculty development center.

University Of California, Santa Barbara Library
University Of California, Santa Barbara Library

The new exterior plaza combined with the paseo lobby traversing the building east/west, redefine public space on campus, reconnecting the University’s expanding east and west quadrangles.

University Of California, Santa Barbara Library
University Of California, Santa Barbara Library