Cherishing the Past, Preparing for the Future

Recently named the second top public library construction firm in the nation, Swinerton is committed to building impactful spaces for literacy and community. In Portland, OR, Swinerton performed significant renovations to Midland Library, adding 6,000 square feet to the original 24,000-square-foot building via a mass timber and steel hybrid structure in partnership with Timberlab. An eye-catching overhead mural designed by local artists adorns the entire south fa?ade of the building, while three beautiful orange sculptures frame the entry plaza. In addition to the inviting art, several indoor and outdoor gathering spaces allow community members to connect and create.

“Midland Library is one of the county’s largest and most frequented libraries,” says Swinerton Project Manager David Millot, testifying to the importance of the renovation.

Some of the project goals included increasing the amount of meeting and event spaces, increasing the overall space, and improving staff areas and back-of-house areas to accommodate the library’s implementation of its new automated material handling system.

Embracing Mass Timber

Construction on the library began in February 2023 with a gutting of the existing space. The team added underground utilities and completed seismic upgrades to the structure, followed by a new roof, envelope, and interior build-out.

Swinerton’s holistic mass timber partner, Timberlab, came on board as the mass timber supplier and installer. The project team engaged Timberlab early in the design phase to assist with finalizing the building’s structural system, providing new showcase rooms, children’s play areas, and a community patio.

Timberlab constructed angled ceilings and walls that harmonized with the original structure and the new spaces. This created a unified central area for the main book collection, while preserving the original structural integrity.

Midland Library is also pursuing LEED Gold? certification, which is only awarded to the most energy-efficient, cost-effective green buildings.

Project Problem-Solving

The project team faced several challenges throughout the construction process. Permit delays, undocumented underground dry wells, and inaccurate drawings of the original structure added more work than anticipated.

According to David Millot, one of the most significant challenges involved the library’s electrical systems. Within the first few months of the project, the team discovered that the existing electrical equipment did not meet the utility company’s requirements, meaning that entirely new switchgear had to be procured. Complicating the project further, the new switchgear had an exceptionally long lead time, with the potential to derail the entire schedule.

To mitigate the worst of the schedule impacts, the team leveraged the existing building’s power and continued building the new infrastructure needed, which allowed construction to proceed unaffected while the team waited for the new switchgear to arrive.

Additional procurement issues came in the form of the client’s desired high-pressure laminate sliding panels, which needed to be color-coordinated with the artwork on the exterior fa?ade. To produce and procure these custom panels, the team needed to collaborate with a manufacturer in Austria. Although the project team reviewed other panel options that were quicker and easier to procure, they decided to move forward with the desired product rather than risking a conflict with the design intent by procuring too different of a product.

The team coordinated closely with the overseas manufacturing and local jurisdictions to achieve a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy while they waited for the finished panels to arrive. Once the panels were onsite a few weeks later, installation proceeded seamlessly.

Amidst these procurement challenges, David and the project team held weekly meetings and field walks beyond the regular owner-architect-contractor meetings to ensure that any issues could be resolved as quickly as possible. This collaborative process helped the team problem-solve and decide on solutions that met the needs of the library while still meeting the schedule.

Community-Centric Designs

Community members played an integral role in designing the building. Supporting one of the most culturally diverse areas in the region, Midland Library features design input from nine distinct focus groups. The final design draws on a “pattern workshop,” which identified pattern themes of hope, prosperity, strength, and community. These themed patterns and motifs were adapted to the final design and are used throughout the building’s exterior.

Through a partnership with the Regional Arts & Culture Council, 2% of the Midland Library construction budget was allocated to local art. Artists were awarded projects by a selection panel of community members, business owners, artists, project partners, and library staff. Many of the art projects were also guided by the needs and desires of the local community.

A new 750-square-foot “teen space” features large displays and sound systems, enhancing gaming experiences and allowing adolescent patrons to watch movies or video conferences. The outdoor interactive garden has pebble-shaped stepping stones, play mounds, and enclosed views of Midland City Park. A dedicated sensory room includes a space to support self-regulation and decrease stress, while the 10 community rooms spread throughout the library enhance connection.

Outside, new power and water connections allow for food carts, cultural festivals, and resource fairs throughout the year. Accessible bookshelves accommodate users of all physical abilities, while the natural lighting throughout the library promotes connection to nature.

The renovation has centered the library’s role as a gathering place for all ages within Multnomah County.

Enhancing the Greater Multnomah County Library System

The Midland Library is just one part of a robust library refresh program that Swinerton is performing throughout Portland. Once complete, the program will deliver 10 state-of-the-art libraries—some newly renovated, others built from the ground up—but all encompassing the voices of Multnomah County’s diverse community members. Each library blends architecture with artistic elements that reflect the area’s vibrant multicultural communities, emphasizing the significance of people and relationships.

The world depends on human connection, and libraries are spaces where these connections can form and thrive. Midland Library is dedicated to bringing people together, creating bonds, and fostering community, and Swinerton is proud to have helped bring this impactful vision to life.