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Multnomah County
Portland, OR

Owner:
Multnomah County

Architect:
Thomas Hacker Architects

Contractor:
Hoffman Construction

Image Credits:
Thomas Hacker Architects Inc.

Provided the design of this two-story, 12,400-sf branch library with one-level of underground parking. The central pavilion space of the library, consisting of the main reading room, is a 20-foot-high open space supported by nine steel tree-columns that branch out to support circular steel forms. The circular steel forms, in turn, support an exposed steel and wood roof structure. The project uses a strong concrete base at the parking level. The library design incorporates many green building features including: expansive daylighting created by the open reading room; the use of certified wood products for the exposed wood deck of the ceiling and building structure; low-E glass thermal window pane system; an underfloor air distribution system to increase air quality; and a car charging station and a car sharing space in the underground parking structure. Completed in 2004, the library earned the Gold Certification in the LEED(TM) Rating System. While with another firm, Chris Thompson served as Principal-in-Charge and John McDonald served as Project Manager.