With Lion & Aztec Dancers kicking off the celebration, the renovated Bernal Heights Branch Library opened to the public on January 30, 2010. 

This beautiful renovation was designed by Andrew Maloney, with help from Rafael Gutierrez and Danielle Mayo – Chacon, from BOA and BOE staff Lizzy Hirsch (Landscape), Steven Lee ( Electrical), & Harley Dreissen and Kin Lau ( Mechanical).  BCM Resident Engineer Wellington Wong supervised construction and the Branch Library Improvement Program team Lena Chen, Samuel Chui, Irene Aquino, Mindy Linetzky and Amber Vasche managed the project.

"Andy is our hero," exclaimed branch manager Lisa Dunseth. "Everyone who comes into the branch is stunned, awed, and has a giant smile on their face."

The project included an extensive refurbishment of the basement, creating a sizeable dedicated Children’s Room with easy access from the neighboring playground. A spacious community meeting room that can accommodate Library classes, programs and after-hours activities, staff rooms and fully accessible public restrooms complete the lower level.

Upstairs, the main portion of the library retains its beautiful heritage from 1940 with the original hand painted stencils decorating the ceiling and the original ornate hanging light fixtures casting a warm glow throughout the rooms. Wood veneers were refinished to carefully match the original woodwork inside the branch. The newly installed Beaux Arts staircase dovetails seamlessly into the building while new flooring fully unites the space.

“Just as the WPA (Works Progress Administration) provided much needed jobs for public works projects in Bernal Heights and across San Francisco in the late 1930s, the Branch Library Improvement Program today is providing work for architects, contractors, trades people, and laborers to rebuild our libraries across the city, which is all the more important in these challenging times,” said Ed Reiskin, Director of the Department of Public Works.

Bernal Heights is the 13th library project to be completed under the Branch Library Improvement Program.

Picture is Architect Andy Maloney with General Contractor Victor Chu of CDX Builder.