Biblioteca Latino Americana

Biblioteca Latino Americana

Located one mile south of Downtown San Jose, the Biblioteca Latinoamericana and Washington United Youth Center anchors a T-shaped site surrounded by commercial, educational and residential neighborhoods.

Biblioteca Latino Americana
Biblioteca Latino Americana

Responding to the urban context and residential neighborhoods, a shaded courtyard invites pedestrians through two different entrances via trellis pathways.

Biblioteca Latino Americana

This outdoor plaza, complete with a stage, becomes a neighborhood focal gathering place for everyday casual use as well as special occasions and a cultural landmark for the community.

Biblioteca Latino Americana

Organized around the courtyard, the two buildings share a relationship of similar materials and forms; tall masonry masses formed by concrete block and brick, linked together by a lower, metal and glass clad "glue-like" elements.


Biblioteca Latino Americana

The Biblioteca is an important Spanish language resource in the region, housing special collections of both Spanish and English literature. The Youth Center provides a gymnasium, boxing, weightlifting, counseling services by Catholic Charities, and a program/community room where both Library and Youth Center group programs can be planned and community meetings occur.

Contact Us

Project
  • Biblioteca Latino Americana
Location
  • San Jose, CA
Client
  • Redevelopment Agency of San Jose
Year
  • 1999
Status
  • Complete
Size
  • 30,000 sf
Collaborators
  • Garcia Teague Architecture + Interiors - Executive Architect
    Patricia O' Brien Landscape Architecture - Landscape
    Biggs Cardosa Associates, Inc. - Structural
    Alfa Tech - MEP
    Kier & Wrights - Civil
Photographers
  • Tom Bonner
Awards
  • 2002 AIA|California Council Concrete Masonry Association of CA and NV, Merit Award
  • 2001 AIA San Jose, Merit Award
Publications
  • 2002 CMU Profiles in Architecture
  • 2000 Architectural Record
  • LA Architect