Chaffey College's new Library Learning Commons has landed a spot on a national list of just 15 standout library projects, a fresh honor for the $75 million building that opened on the Rancho Cucamonga campus in February. The 76,000-square-foot facility features an atrium.
The recognition comes from the American Library Association's 2026 Library Design Showcase, which selected the 15 projects for the Fall issue of American Libraries magazine, published September 1. It's the association's 38th annual list, honoring new and renovated libraries across the U.S. and Canada completed between April 2025 and March 2026, according to the American Library Association. As the Daily Bulletin reported, the honor recognizes libraries that respond to the evolving needs of their communities.
A Campus Hub Designed for Commuters
Designed by LPA and DLR Group, the building was built specifically to serve as a campus hub where students can gather, study and connect between classes, the paper's report notes. Its design includes a social stair and an atrium, along with study spaces and classrooms. Students who walked past the building in February, when it opened, included Chaffey College student and Rialto resident Isabel Moreno, Upland resident Alaska Miranda, and Upland resident Luna Miller, all part of the wave of students now using the space, per the same account.
The original campus library was constructed beginning in 1959 as one of 12 initial buildings on the Rancho Cucamonga campus.
A Voter-Approved Investment Nearly Seven Years in the Making
The Library Learning Commons broke ground in a ceremony reported by the Daily Bulletin at the time. The project's funding is also part of the account.
The library is the flagship project of a voter-backed bond program.
Cultural Artwork Anchors the New Space
Cultural artwork is associated with the new space.
Chaffey College operates the Library Learning Commons in Rancho Cucamonga. The Chaffey Community College District includes Inland Empire cities.
The design showcase honor is an institutional accolade for the college. The article also identifies Chaffey College in connection with the project.
