Beacon Hill Branch Library
Seattle
Carlson Architects P.S.

Upturned hull makes an elegant vessel for a boat–load of books

© Lara Swimmer/ESTO

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Located in Seattle″s ethnically diverse Beacon Hill neighborhood, this highly trafficked branch had previously occupied a small storefront–a supposedly "temporary" arrangement that ended up lasting two decades. With the passage of a bond package in 1998, the Seattle Public Library system received funds to build a permanent branch on a prominent corner in the community.

Carlson Architects″ design responds directly to the site. Resembling an upturned canoe, the building″s roof is composed of two curving sections that jut out from the facade at an off–axis angle from the surrounding streets: forming an instant landmark and beacon for the neighborhood. This hull–like form is echoed by an abstract sculpture of a boat that rises on a pole at one end of the building, puncturing its roof. Designed by local artist Miles Pepper, the sculpture was also funded by the library″s bond measure, which provided for public art in all libraries.

Inside the building, the upturned hull defines an airy volume for the main reading room and stacks. Reflecting the neighborhood″s diversity, this branch houses 40,000 books and materials, including collections in Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish, and Tagalog. The branch also features 24 public computers, a meeting room, two study rooms for tutoring and other uses, and a quiet room. The materials palette of exposed wood beams injects these spaces with a warm, glowing quality–humanizing an otherwise grand scale.

In addition to occupying a prominent corner, the Beacon Hill Branch also lies within the noisy flight path of nearby Seattle–Tacoma International Airport. This presented a significant challenge for Carlson Architects, who, for environmental sustainability concerns, sought to ventilate the building exclusively with natural air. After extensive testing, the design team successfully developed a system of under–floor air ducts that cool the building without emitting too much outside noise.

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Formal name of project:
Beacon Hill Branch Library

Location:
Seattle

Gross square footage:
10,800 sq. ft.

Total construction cost:
$3.3 million

Client:
Seattle Public Library

Architect:
Carlson Architects P.S.
2111 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121
206-441-3066 tel.
206-728-4661 fax