Hayward 21st Century Library & Community Learning Center

Hayward’s new 21st Century Library & Community Learning Center will be located in the heart of Hayward’s historic downtown district and serve as a gathering space for the local community.

The new building will feature community learning, flexible gathering spaces, homework centers, computer and technology labs, and a small cafe, all linked through state-of-the-art technology.

The site of the former library hosts an arboretum that dates back to the city’s founding, including many rare and mature trees. These grounds will be restored, and a community plaza will be created on the site of the existing library. This will be used for farmer’s markets, music performances, and cultural and community events.

An in-slab radiant floor system will transport heating and cooling energy throughout the building. In contrast, a natural ventilation system will dramatically reduce energy use and equipment, repair, and maintenance costs. Automatic daylighting controls will dim interior lights and turn the lights off if there is sufficient daylight within the space to perform the functions associated with those spaces.

The library will feature one of the largest capture, treatment, and reuse systems in the state of California. The Introba (formerly Integral Group) team found a cost-effective solution during the demolition of the existing library by infilling the basement with a rainwater tank. With over 200,000 gallons of storage, the system provides near-net-zero water for the new library building and offsets a significant portion of landscape demands with a tank that blends seamlessly into the landscape.