More than a decade ago, Group 4 converted a roller rink in Scotts Valley into an award-winning branch of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries system. In a time of rapidly rising construction costs, the project prioritized transformation of the interior of the library. Exterior building and landscape improvements were intended for a future phase.

The transformation of the library was funded by the $67 million library improvement bond measure, Measure S, which passed in 2016. With those funds, the library experienced a number of substantial upgrades, such as strategic soundproofing structures that hang from the high ceilings in the redesigned areas for children and teens, new study and meeting rooms, self-checkout stations and a relocated circulation desk. Longtime residents may remember that the building once housed a roller rink, and the retro aesthetic of the remodeled space seems to call back to that era.

Recently, the City of Scotts Valley was able to complete that future phase using a combination of City funds, a voter measure, and Friends of the Library contributions. Group 4 designed an enticing new façade and landscaping for Scotts Valley’s characteristically vibrant and industrial library – giving it the street presence to match its distinctive interior. The renovated branch reopened to the public in July 2022 with an interior refresh and building system upgrades as well as exterior improvements – readying the Scotts Valley Library for the next decade of service. Read more about the first stage of the transformation and check out photos of the recent remodel.