Yucaipa Branch Library

City of Yucaipa, CA

Rendering of a modern library building with flags, people walking and sitting outside, surrounded by landscaping and trees.

Civic/Municipal | On the boards

Library Design Competition

Project Overview

The Library Facility Project represents a unique collaboration between the Yucaipa Calimesa Joint Unified School District, the City of Yucaipa, and the County of San Bernardino. Planned as a 15,000 to 18,000 square foot facility on vacant district-owned property, the project also includes requisite parking, landscaping, and site improvements. Once completed, the District will retain ownership of the property, the City will own the new library building, and the County will oversee operations - ensuring a shared investment in education, culture, and community access.

Location
Yucaipa, California

Services Provided
Full Architectural Services - Design Competition

Principal in charge
Michael J. Stephens, AIA, NCARB

Size
18,000 sf

An architectural drawing of a modern building with people, trees, and a bench in the foreground.

A Deep Community Connection

With deep roots in the Yucaipa community, SGH Architects embraced the opportunity to design a facility that would be more than just a library. The project was envisioned as a true civic anchor - one that fosters learning, gathering, and cultural exchange.

By aligning with Yucaipa’s craftsman-style architectural vernacular, the design responds to the city’s identity while creating a recognizable landmark that residents can take pride in for generations to come.

Architectural rendering of a modern community center with trees, flowering bushes, and a small group of people outside, under a partly cloudy sky, with an American flag in the background.

Flexible and Engaging Design

The facility integrates both indoor and outdoor spaces to create a seamless flow between learning environments, community meeting areas, and recreational spaces.

Large windows provide sweeping views of the surrounding mountains, reinforcing a connection to nature while flooding the interiors with natural light. Inside, flexible configurations allow the library to support diverse uses - from quiet study to collaborative programs, lectures, and events - ensuring the building can adapt to the evolving needs of the community.

An aerial view of a building with a surrounding parking lot, landscaped areas, and adjacent trees and garden space.

Architectural rendering of a modern building exterior with a sidewalk, a person, trees, and a parking lot in the background.

A modern building with trees, pink flowering bushes, benches, people walking, and an American flag in the background.

Illustration of a modern building with a parking lot in front, surrounded by trees, bushes, and rocks, with a few cars and people visible.

Exterior view of a modern Yucaipa Library building with illuminated sign, trees, shrubs, and children sitting inside near the window

Aerial view of a modern building with a parking lot, green trees, and a small landscaped area with benches and a fountain.

A detailed illustration of a community center with a modern architectural style, featuring a large parking lot, a landscaped entrance with flags, outdoor seating areas, and surrounding trees and greenery.

Exterior view of Yucaipa Library with flags flying in front and a fountain in the foreground during dusk.

Honoring Partnerships

A defining aspect of the design is the intentional recognition of the project’s partnerships, especially with the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. SGH Architects incorporated key cultural and architectural elements that honor this collaboration, embedding meaning and respect into the building’s identity.

The result is not only a modern, functional library but also a facility that symbolizes the strength of community partnerships, civic pride, and cultural heritage in Yucaipa.

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