Learning Resource Center – Palomar College

Location: San Marcos, CA
Architect: LPA Inc.
Products: EM Series Chain Actuators
Glazing Co: Tower Glass
About the Project
The design for Palomar College’s new Learning Resource Center (LRC) re-imagines the basic concept of a library, creating an open, bright facility which will serve multiple purposes now and into the future.
The 85,000-square-foot, four-story learning center was designed as the heart of the campus, connecting the buildings to an arrival plaza with social areas for students. The entrance is an open atrium flooded with natural light and views of the campus, a sharp contrast to the closed off libraries of the past. The project was designed to meet LEED Gold standards, the design focused on methods to conserve energy, including the larger “floating” upper level floors, which shade the lower floors and plaza. The design reduces fossil fuel use by 70 percent, meeting the requirements of the AIA’s 2030 Commitment. EM2 and LM2 Series chain actuators are used throughout the building for natural ventilation.