Sno-Isle Libraries' Edmonds Library Turned Tragedy Into Opportunity Through Redesign
/Renovations, including a new community room, were initiated after a flooding event.
by Emma Hinchliffe for the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce
in june 2022 the edmonds library was flooded with 60,000 gallons of water from a burst irrigation pipe / photo courtesy of sno-isle libraries
A re-imagined and re-invigorated Edmonds Library reopened to the public in January after an extensive renovation and modernization that followed a major flooding event in June 2022.
The 17,566-square-foot library, which is part of the Sno-Isle Libraries network, is located on the ground level of a two-story property built in the early 1980s and owned by the city of Edmonds.
The top level of the building is used as events space and includes an extensively landscaped green roof, serviced by a rooftop irrigation system. The flooding was caused when a pipe in that infrastructure burst. Over the course of an evening, more than 60,000 gallons of water flooded down into the library, and when staff discovered the damage the next morning they were standing in 2-inches of water.
Fortunately, all the library's books and electronics were able to be salvaged but the branch had to close immediately.
RECOVERING FROM DISASTER
A quiet study room or small meeting room can be reserved through the library / photo courtesy of sno-isle libraries
Working with Seattle-firm Johnston Architects (JA), Sno-Isle saw an opportunity to turn this tragedy into a positive and decided to not only repair but also renovate the library to create an updated branch that better served the community.
The renovation comprised a dramatic upgrade of existing spaces and services, with all new furniture and carpets, plus the addition of a new flexible community room for meetings, events and gatherings. The scope also included some exterior work and structural upgrades/fixes to protect against future leaks and improve the lifespan of the building.
JA began working on the renovation project design in December 2022 after initial remediation and repairs of the flooded space had been completed. Ground was broken on the renovations in May 2023. Faber Construction of Lynden was the general contractor.
“The existing space had been stripped to its bones, so we were basically starting from scratch with our design,” Mona Johnston Zellers, partner at JA, shared.
The vision for the refreshed library was crafted utilizing significant community feedback. JA heard from patrons a strong need for more community space that could be used to host a variety of events. Other priorities were increased accessibility, especially better access to technology; the incorporation of more flexible spaces throughout the library; and a place that felt welcoming to all ages and types of learners.
new furniture selections were made to fit the needs of a mix of patrons / photo courtesy of sno-isle libraries
“Our goal was to develop a ‘third space' for the community where everyone would feel comfortable and that is engaging and usable across Sno-Isle's entire patronage,” Maggie Ciaccio, associate at JA, said.
A STRONG SENSE OF TRANSFORMATION
Programming in the refreshed library remains essentially the same, bar the addition of the new community room, but the space has an entirely new aesthetic with new furniture and upgraded areas, culminating in a strong sense of transformation and generating a totally different experience of being in and interacting with the space.
The community room is created via a glass Nanawall that can be folded away to open the room to the rest of the library.
the new community room is divided from the rest of the library with a removable glass wall, allowing for larger gatherings if needed / photo couresty of sno-isle libraries
inside, the community room can be set up numerous ways with visibility and natural light coming through from the rest of the library / photo courtesy of sno-isle libraries
Prior to the renovation, the biggest focal point were rows of tall, fixed, bookshelves. Those have been removed and replaced with shorter bookstacks on wheels for increased mobility, flexibility and visibility. This has dramatically opened the interior to beautiful surrounding views. The library building is located on a hillside overlooking downtown Edmonds and has large windows that frame views of the city and surrounding nature. Those were previously hidden by the tall shelves.
“When we saw the space one of our first thoughts was to open the library up to those views and that became a driving feature of the renovation,” Zellers said. “As it was, you didn't get a sense of the grandeur of the views from the building. Now they are a design feature within the space,” Lina Baker, associate at JA, added.
While less of the book collection is now on display there has not been a reduction in the library's holdings.
The redesign also includes new furniture with intentionally varied seating options and furnishings to meet the needs of patrons with different abilities, ages and sensory needs.
BEFORE: looking from the teen area into the children’s area / photo courtesy of sno-isle libraries
after: the same teen area is brightened up with higher ceilings, lighter paint, lower bookshelves, and more flexible furniture they can rearrange / photo courtesy of sno-isle libraries
The “peg wall’ lights up like a full-sized lite-brite / photo courtesy of sno-isle libraries
“The major goal for this area was to create an environment that encouraged play and learning through action and activity, as much as reading,” Zellers explained.
In addition to books and child-sized seating, the children's area has a new immersive centerpiece; a peg board wall installation that combines digital and analog features to entertain children and adults alike.
The floor-to-ceiling pegboard, which is essentially a large version of a Lite-Brite toy, was crafted by JA design technologist and associate Shane Leaman and creatively infuses dynamic movement and experiential design. The board encourages cooperative play and problem-solving via shifting lights and the addition and removal of pegs, showing how technology, especially when combined with tactical elements, can enhance a child's learning experience and ignite imaginative play.
inside the “pebble’ in the chilren’s area, designed by ja and fabricated by haskett works / photo courtesy of sno-isle libraries
Other unique elements in the children's area include a sculptural enclosed seating space called ‘The Pebble” and a cuddle nook that will appeal to individuals who like to learn and read in a more private/quiet space. There are also spaces for more messy and co-operative play and learning.
Seating in this area comprises a mix of both kid- and -adult-sized options, including seating specifically crafted to support seniors as grandparents often bring their grandchild into the space (the library's two largest user groups are children and seniors).
The children's area features a rainbow of brightly colored furnishings.
In other areas of the library, the design team selected paint and furnishing colors that felt welcoming and warm in a conscious desire to move away from the more minimalist palettes that have become popular in modern library design.
a gallery area greets visitors as they enter the new edmonds library / photo courtesy of sno-isle libraries
There are lots of warm wooden furnishings and natural tones. The walls of the main circulation desk area are painted a rich forest green that evokes the natural splendor of the Pacific Northwest and provides a juxtaposition to the abundant bright natural light that now streams into the space. “The effect is a light and bright open space with rich colors and textures,” Zellers said.
Another highlight of the library is a dedicated art gallery area at the entrance, programmed as part of the city of Edmonds annual Community Art Walk.
RE-WELCOMING THE COMMUNITY
Sno-Isle Libraries invested a total of $2.5 million to modernize the library. The project was funded via capital funds allocated in the library's 2023 budget. Approximately $37,000 came from Sno-Isle Libraries' insurance to help cover the costs of new furniture and equipment. The city of Edmonds' insurance settlement helped cover recovery and repair costs.
At the ribbon cutting in januaryt 2024 / photo courtesy of sno-isle libraries
A grand opening celebration was held Jan. 12 and 14, which the library says was attended by over 4,000 community members.
“It was amazing to see the community making the space their own and interacting with it as we had hoped and intended,” Zellers reflected.
The project team also includes Telecom Plumbing - Sazan Group, mechanical, electrical, lighting; Greenbusch Group, acoustics; Swenson Say Faget, structural; DCW Cost, cost estimator consultants; RDH Building Science, building envelope; MBI Seattle, furniture procurement and installation; Haskett Works, children's area installation (pebble); Conspectus, specifications; K&S Woodworks, casework fabricator; MSR in collaboration with Johnston Architects, signage design; and Diversified, audio/visual.