Lakewood Interim Library

The Pierce County Library System needed a solution to return library services to the community of Lakewood as quickly as possible after they unexpectedly had to close the existing Lakewood Library due to maintenance issues.

To meet need for fast project delivery, we designed the building using modular building units, which were premanufactured in an offsite facility and trucked to the site for final assembly. The new library is comprised of thirteen modular building units, combined together along a central spine to create the 7,700 sf building.

The public reading room consists of eight building modules 65’ long by 12’ wide that are interconnected to form an open reading room housing collections for adults, teens, children, public computers, study areas, and a large community meeting room. The library’s service spaces are composed of five additional building modules sized 35’ long x 12’ wide, containing a staff workroom, breakroom, librarian’s office, study rooms, restrooms, and spaces for mechanical, electrical, and data. Site improvements include a large public entry plaza with planting and seating, new surface parking, and onsite rainwater treatment.  The resulting library provides open and flexible spaces, abundant daylight, and a strong civic presence.

The modular building design also allows for future reuse; the building modules can be disassembled, moved, and reassembled on a different site when needed. The approach is innovative, flexible, and sustainable – elevating a temporary and cost-effective building technology to create a vital and inspiring community gathering place.

A BuildingWork project. Photography by Lara Swimmer.