Designed to mimic its surroundings, the design-build Manhattan Beach Library features roof lines, window systems and millwork that mirror the character of Manhattan Beach. The 22,000-sq-ft facility boasts floor-to-ceiling glass walls that are not only energy efficient but also offer dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean.

To meet stringent LEED Gold standards, C.W. Driver and the project team created an efficient glass curtain wall system that allowed exhaust air to flow between the inner and outer wall to minimize heat build-up within the cavity. To do this, crews pretensioned the structural steel prior to setting the curtain wall to accommodate the weight of the glass. This was done to avoid any cracking of the glass due to steel movement during installation.