Metropolis Magazine’s Planet Positive Awards honor equitable projects which have addressed human and ecosystem health, and climate change. The Billie Jean King Main Library has been awarded the program’s 2022 Civic/Cultural Award.
The SOM-designed public library boasts a heavy timber structure, low energy needs, on-site renewables, low embodied carbon, low water needs, responsible on-site water management, and water-wise landscaping. In addition to the building’s remarkable performance, the landscaping is designed as an ecological learning tool. The Billie Jean King Main Library has achieved LEED Platinum certification and is part of SOM’s Long Beach Civic Center Master Plan.