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159 Western Avenue West, Suite 486
Seattle, Washington 98119
office 206 775-8668
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Skyway Library
oriented toward the pedestrian thoroughfare, the library's dynamic building form is lifted and carved away to create a front porch that welcomes passers-by
Skyway Library
"Skystones," an art installation, by Jenny Heishman, combines mass, void, and reflection to anchor Skyway's new public plaza
Skyway Library
the color of the library was inspired by the transition of the sky a moment before sunrise and moments after twilight
Skyway Library
without a back side to the building, the service entry is tucked away in a niche to avoid competing with the library's public entrance.
Skyway Library
a large skylight lined with color-changing lights peeks out above the children's reading area
Skyway Library
a 20-foot-high wall of windows offers views into library from Skyway's main crossroads
Skyway Library
the front porch of the library is lined with sustainably reclaimed teak
Skyway Library
self-check stations near the library's entry provide views across the new public plaza
Skyway Library
the vibrant, light-filled, reading room is defined by perimeter bookshelves and a central location for public computers
Skyway Library
a quiet study room floats within the central space providing acoustic privacy while retaining light and views
Skyway Library
the library's "living room" features comfortable seating, a community table crafted from the tail wing of a Boeing airplane, and a 20-foot-high glass wall with views to Mount Rainier
Skyway Library
with high-speed internet access not widely available in this area, the public computers are in constant use by members of the community
Skyway Library
with open sight lines, the children's area is defined by fun furniture, colorful carpet, specialty shelving, and an oversized skylight
Skyway Library
the meeting room is used by community groups, public events, and in this instance, after-school programs for local teens

Location Skyway, WA

Client King County Library System

Awards AIA Northwest and Pacific Region Awards, Merit Award, 2018

AIA Washington Civic Design Awards, Citation Award, 2018

Skyway Library

Skyway Library represents the first significant public investment in the Skyway community–an unincorporated, under-served neighborhood–in several decades. The library’s sculptural form responds to its triangular site and to the community’s desire for an inspiring and dynamic public space. The building features a carefully detailed exterior skin whose three shades of blue resonate with the sky at dusk and dawn.

The reading room is open, flexible and filled with daylight. The public “living room” area offers a communal study table made from a repurposed airplane wing and a 20-foot high window wall through which Mount Rainier is visible. The children’s area includes furniture decorated with children’s art and a large skylight lined with color-changing LED lights.  A sliding glass wall connects the reading room to a multi-purpose meeting room used for story time and after school programming.

A large public plaza with seating, sculpture and landscaping provides a much-needed civic gathering space used by adults, children and teens, the weekly farmers’ market, voter registration drives, and other community events.

“This had concept and clarity that defines an uplifting project. There was a community dialogue that was really a key component of the process. It was a really terrific example of a purposeful and mission-driven program that was handled with elegancy, a sense of responsibility, and it’s a tough siting that had really high aspirations…this was another project for us that made the case that there’s a lot you can do for very little.” – 2018 AIA Washington Civic Design Award Jury

A BuildingWork/Weinstein AU project.  Matt Aalfs: Design Principal/ Project Manager; Kate Weiland: Project Architect; photos © Lara Swimmer Photography