Located in the heart of the waterfront town that serves as the gateway between Washington and British Columbia, the new Blaine Library is part of the revitalization of this growing community. A collaboration with King Architecture, the design team implemented an inclusive workshop process, ensuring that community members and library patrons were heavily involved in the design. The Blaine Library is set to serve a large portion of Whatcom County, so creating opportunities for engagement with patrons from the surrounding communities was especially important. Widely attended monthly community workshops helped build enthusiasm around the project and created consensus about the library program, look, and feel.

The Blaine Library’s design takes cues from its maritime setting. A light wooden roof floats above the library massing, reminiscent of the hull of a ship or the wood framing of old waterfront dock buildings. Each corner serves as a beacon, signaling to the broader Blaine community that this is a place to come gather, listen, and learn. These “lanterns” are created through faceted windows and dramatic up-lighting, highlighting the wooden structure. Cedar siding on the interior and exterior reflects upon the town’s past as a large exporter of cedar and other Western Washington wood products.

Numerous sustainable strategies are being explored as the project moves forward into its fundraising phase. These include installing extensive solar arrays, daylighting controls, and the harvesting of rainwater and runoff on site to support landscaping and a rain garden. 

ASSOCIATE ARCHITECT King Architecture
LOCATION Blaine, WA
AREA 8,600 SF
COMPLETED 2020