Hillsdale Library

Multonomah County Book Box Goes Green

by Brian Libby

In the last seven years, Multnomah County has undergone a landmark group of library building projects-some remodels, some new buildings-that have earned widespread praise. Two projects, Central Library and Woodstock Library, were even listed as part of the top 10 library building projects in the nation in a ceremony co-sponsored by the American Library Association and the American Institute of Architects.

If the Hillsdale Library earns the Silver LEED rating it is seeking, it will be the first county library to earn LEED rating of any kind. Image courtesy of Thomas Hacker Architects

Now comes the new Hillsdale branch, which figures to be the greenest of Multnomah County's libraries. It's poised to earn a Silver LEED certification and will the first county library to earn LEED rating of any kind. The project is designed by Thomas Hacker Architects, which has been behind all of the library buildings (except Central) after being selected as the primary provider of architectural services by Multnomah County. (Hacker has previously designed the Midland, Hollywood, Alameda and Woodstock libraries for Multnomah County as well as several others for cities and universities.)

"Consistency was very desirable," explained June Mikkelsen of Multnomah County. "At one point we had up to five projects going at once. It would have been very challenging to have a number of different architects."

"Our experience in designing public and academic libraries has given us a very detailed understanding," said lead designer Steve Simpson of Thomas Hacker Architects. "We recognize how to create a strong public architecture as well as internal room organizations and adjacencies. Each project has its particular constraints and challenges, keeping it new and exciting for us."

The project got off to a difficult start when the original contractor left the project early in the process, reportedly by mutual agreement. When Hoffman Construction signed on as the new contractor, "hitting the ground running was important," explained project manager Stephanie Coyle of Hoffman. "One of the challenges for us was to make sure that we got our subcontractors on board quickly. We tried wherever we could to bring on the same subcontractors, so we wouldn't be too surprised by what we found out there."

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The project also includes numerous materials and methods to earn its high LEED rating. Natural ventilation is optimized through an efficient raised-access floor system. An Energy Star roof coating minimizes solar heat gain, as does a low-e coating on the glass. Storm water runoff management reduces dirty water sent to local rivers. Local and regional materials were used extensively, including certified wood, and many these materials were also recycled. Other features include thermal humidity control, an electric car charging station, ample daylighting (reducing the need for artificial lights), and construction waste management that may reach as high as 90 percent. All told, the design calls for the implementation of 20 percent optimized energy performance.

The 12,000-sq.-ft. project (which also includes an 11,700-sq.-ft. garage underneath) is set on a gentle hillside in the Hillsdale neighborhood of Southwest Portland, about five minutes from downtown.

"The sloped site was a challenge," explained Simpson. "It allowed us to place the library parking within a masonry plinth, in turn elevating the spacious public reading room, giving it a sense of civic prominence while taking full advantage of the views."

Indeed, the design creates a very light and open space, with glass and wood in poetic harmony. It also exposes structural elements that are often buried in other buildings.

"That's one of the challenging parts of our work," said Coyle. "A lot of times, the structure gets buried, so it doesn't matter so much that it's beautiful and the welds are perfect. But with a Thomas Hacker building, they sort of feature that."

"We believe buildings should express the inherent natural beauty of materials and the craft of construction," Simpson said. "The honest expression of selected materials and structure will give the building enduring meaning and lasting value. A timeless quality is the goal."

And a timeless quality is undeniably the result, with Hacker's design blending crisp modernism with the warmth of natural materials and light for which the Northwest Style is synonymous. And while the project got off to a rocky start, it is set for successful completion in February with doors opening in early March.

Project Team:

Owner: Multnomah County
General Contractor: Hoffman Construction Co.
Architect: Thomas Hacker Architects

Useful Sites:

The U.S. Green Building Council's websites describes the LEED rating system

• www.usgbc.org