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Clovis Memorial District Conference Center Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre Deaf Culture Centre Gentry Public Library City of Phoenix Neighborhood Resource Center Orange Memorial Park Recreation Building SOS Children’s Village Lavezzorio Community Center Sunset Community Centre5.4.7 Arts Center The Seattle Public Library Southwest Branch Temecula Public LibraryThe Seattle Public Library Southwest Branch
An old library is renovated as part of a public initiative.
The renovation and extension of the Southwest Branch Library was made possible as part of the Libraries for All initiative, approved by Seattle voters in 1998. The $196 million bond measure enabled library renovations and new library construction.
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The Southwest Branch building, completed in 1961, was doubled in size to 15,000 square feet. Much of the existing steel structure from the original brick-clad, one-story building was preserved.
The library expansion extends the original building to the street with a two-story addition and entry arcade, increasing the building’s civic presence. The addition is clad in a wood-resin composite panel system. The rebuilt original portion of the building is covered in durable and low-maintenance corrugated cement board.
The renovated library features abundant fenestration, opening the building to light and the surrounding neighborhood. Clerestory windows and a central light well surround the vertical circulation area, bringing natural light deep into the building’s center.
A displacement ventilation system provides natural ventilation—there is no air conditioning—and the central, two-story circulation space and clerestories help release excess heat.
Interior beech wood veneers create a warm and inviting space. British Columbia artist, Katherine Kerr, created an exterior installation piece of outstretched hands, cast from the hands of some of the library’s most active patrons.
Formal name of project: The Seattle Public Library Southwest Branch
Location: Seattle, Washington
Gross square footage: 15,000 sq.ft.
Total construction cost: $6,246,979
Completion Date: February 2006
Owner: Seattle Public Library System
Architect:
Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects
159 South Jackson Street, Suite 600
Seattle, WA 98104
P: 206-624-5670
F: 206-624-3730
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