First opened in 1973 as an 18,000-square-foot space, the library was expanded in 1981. This addition, also done by Charles Walton Associates, brought the library to 41,500 square feet. But it was this recent exterior renovation and addition that modernized the library to fit with the emergence of the Internet. While much of the exterior was clad in titanium to go with the futuristic theme, the entry floor, main corridor floor, third floor conference center floor and stairways were done in limestone.
The majority of stone selected for the project was 18 - x 36 - inch and cut-to-size pieces of Gascogne Beige and Gascogne Blue limestone - supplied by Walker Zanger of Sylmar, CA - while Seafoam Green Brazilian granite was used as accents and trim.