Sneak Preview: Holgate Library reconstruction tour

Now! INCLUDES VIDEO TOUR | Take a look inside, and you’ll see how big strides have been made rebuilding outer East Portland’s Holgate Library – from the ground, up …

After the old building was demolished, here in outer East Portland, the all-new Holgate Library is on track for its planned summer opening.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Those who were patrons of the Holgate Library Branch, or were just motorists passing by on Holgate Boulevard at S.E. 79th Avenue – have seen major changes on the property, since it closed on December 5, 2022 and was demolished.

The corner lot in the Foster-Powell neighborhood was scraped clean to make way for a new two-story 21,000-square-foot library – almost four times the size of the old building – on the existing site, and planned to reopen this summer.

On the back side of the building, workers install scaffolding they’ll use attach the custom-designed siding.

In early February, East Portland News toured the construction project with Multnomah County Sr. Construction Project Manager Elise Hendrickson; and Liz Sauer, Library Capital Building Projects Communication Manager, for a close-up inside look at how it’s coming along.

Multnomah County Sr. Construction Project Manager Elise Hendrickson led the tour of the project that she’s overseeing.

“This building will focus on people! There a lot of ‘people spaces’ here – spaces for people to sit and gather,” Hendrickson remarked as she began her tour. “There are community rooms here that will be open to the public free of charge, for community meetings or events.

“There’ll also be an enclosed children’s area on the ground floor. This will have special features, like an early learning activity area.”

Here’s a look at construction taking place up on the second floor of the building. At the far end is the “Teen Space”.

We saw the building’s elevator shaft, still under construction, as we walked up the stairs to the second level.

Watch this video and see the all-new Holgate Library, under construction:

“Here on the second floor will be the adult collection – both the English language collection; and there will be the ‘we speak your language’ collection in this area,” Hendrickson explained.

Exposed wooden beams of “Structural Composite Lumber”, as are here in the area where materials are received, sorted, and dispersed, will be visible throughout the building.

“This library, like all the new library buildings, will have an automated material-handling unit which will help staff process books quickly,” Hendrickson said. The automated material handling system isn’t as large as the one in their new Operations Center, but it operates on the same principle.

>> CLICK HERE to see our story about Multnomah County Library’s new Operations Center – it has a video tour, also! 

Liz Sauer, Multnomah County Library’s Capital Building Projects Communication Manager was clearly enthusiastic about how the project is coming along.

“Books that are returned to Holgate Library can easily be sorted here, and then sent on to their next location,” Liz Sauer explained.

Sauer listed off some of the features built into this new facility:

  • Large play and learning space for children and families
  • Dedicated enclosed “teen room” with areas for technology, homework, and creative expression
  • Multiple flexible rooms for programming and meetings
  • Updated technology and Internet
  • Outdoor plaza for community members to relax and connect
  • New art that represents the community
  • Solar panels to help offset energy use

 

At community-input workshops, participants selected this color and style of the metal cladding, which is unique to this building.

Outside the building, Sauer indicated the siding being installed on the exterior. “Through workshops, the community committee chose the color and the textured pattern seen on the metal cladding of the exterior of the building, and also chose the color and services seen inside the building.”

Its parking lot will provide 31 standard automobile parking spots – two of them with electric charging stations, plus one loading spot for library deliveries, and three ADA spots.

Seeing this interior wall painting in progress is a good sign that the project is moving along on schedule, Manager Elise Hendrickson remarked.

The chosen architects for the new Holgate Library are Bora Architecture & Interiors and Colloqate Design. Swinerton is the building contractor for this approximately $27 million project. Again, the new library is still on schedule, and expected to open this summer.

© 2024 David F. Ashton ~ East Portland News™

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