The city of West Hollywood earlier this month hosted a topping out ceremony for the new West Hollywood Library.

�We are thrilled to reach this milestone in the construction of our new Library,� says Mayor Abbe Land. �When it's completed, this library will not just be a sustainable, beautiful building, it will be the true center of our community and provide untold opportunities for all those who utilize it. The new West Hollywood Library will truly be a library like no other.�

MDA Johnson Favaro of Culver City is the architect on the library project, which is one of the major components of the 25th anniversary capital project program. W.E. O�Neil Construction Co. is the general contractor.

In celebration of 25 years of cityhood, the city of West Hollywood has embarked upon a new capital project to develop premiere public facilities, parks and open space. One of the major components of the program is the implementation of phase I of the West Hollywood Park Master Plan, which includes the development of a new West Hollywood Library.

Phase I also includes a 2.5-acre increase in parkland and green space, several newly constructed tennis courts and more than 400 parking spaces in two municipal garages.

The new $17-million West Hollywood Library is designed to showcase the city�s rich intellectual, literary and cultural diversity and provide a landmark facility for the community�s passionate commitment to lifelong learning. The library will include materials that spotlight West Hollywood�s vibrant diversity and will feature a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender collection; international languages collection; decorative arts and design resources; a vast collection of large-print materials for seniors and people who are visually-impaired; and a West Hollywood Room, which will feature archival materials showcasing the city�s history.

The library is designed to achieve a LEED silver rating. Green sustainable options under consideration for the library include a photovoltaic system (solar power technology that uses solar cells to convert energy from the sun into electricity); low-emitting materials for paints, coatings and carpeting; optimized-energy performance systems (lighting, heating and ventilation) and the use of green housekeeping products.

The city has also hired Heery International to perform project management and pre-construction management services for the city�s 25th Anniversary Capital Improvement Project.