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159 Western Avenue West, Suite 486
Seattle, Washington 98119
office 206 775-8668
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Library Connection at Southcenter
the Library Connection at Southcenter takes advantage of new corner real estate to provide enhanced library services to the community
Library Connection at Southcenter
areas of transparency and opacity provide views or privacy for library patrons
Library Connection at Southcenter
illuminated display cases bring the language of adjacent retail to the library’s façade
Library Connection at Southcenter
graphic signage and colorful panels draw attention to the library’s presence within the mall
Library Connection at Southcenter
areas within the library are delineated by shelving, seating groups, and carpet patterns to create "rooms" within the open plan of the former retail space
Library Connection at Southcenter
the additional area gained through the expansion was used to create more space for patrons
Library Connection at Southcenter
an intimate space is created in the children’s area with a custom wall mural and a sound-absorbing slatted wood ceiling
Library Connection at Southcenter
computer terminals near the library’s entry allow for a quick pop-in and convenient community internet access
Library Connection at Southcenter
a custom-designed cyberbar at the library’s new, prominent corner supports people watching while charging phones and devices

Location Tukwila, WA

Client King County Library System

Library Connection at Southcenter

The Southcenter Library, operating in a small retail space within the largest shopping center in Washington state, brings library services to those who might not otherwise visit a public library. Our expansion and renovation doubled the size of the existing library to provide room for a larger collection, more seating, study areas, and a lounge space for its patrons.

The design includes a new retail façade for the library that creates a cohesive and continuous facade to establish a highly visible presence for the library. The façade has a strong and inviting presence from outside, while the inside offers refuge from the busy shopping mall environment. Patron services extend into the mall corridor with librarian-curated book displays and a touch-screen computer interface for ordering books and accessing library information. With emphasis on world languages, periodicals, public access computers, free wifi, charging stations, and comfortable seating, the new Southcenter Library represents a continuing evolution in library services and the expanding realm of the public library.

A BuildingWork project. Photos © Lara Swimmer Photography