This past Saturday I went to check out the brand new Billie Jean King Main Library in downtown Long Beach. I think it's a gorgeous, gorgeous facility. It is named of course after the great tennis player, whose home town is Long Beach. I've loved libraries ever since I was a little kid, and just had to look at the architecture of this one. It was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. I went crazy taking pictures of it. I took pictures of mostly the inside, and some pictures looking through the windows to the outside.
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It's a very modern building, very glassy, and using metal posts. But, they also used real timber in its construction, which actually gives it a very warm feel, especially inside, instead of the cold, sterile environment you typically get with Modern-style architecture.
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I love how the entrance meets the street.
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Multi-cultural Long Beach.
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The children's section. I like the theme of the artwork, being that it's in a beach city after all.
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I really like the atrium of the library. They have art displayed, which I assume will change throughout the year.
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I guess because the building is brand new, you can really smell the wood as you walk through the building.
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