Peninsula College Library Media Center

The triangular roof form extends to create a covered porch at the library’s main entrance.

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The library and faculty administration building establish a contemporary and durable material palette for campus development.

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View of the library and pedestrian bridge connection from the faculty administration building.

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The exposed reading room structure extends outdoors to create a large covered porch at the main entrance, blurring boundaries between indoors and outdoors.

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The reading room features a commanding view of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Vancouver Island, creating a magnet for students, faculty and community members.

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The faculty administration building (left) and library (right) frame a new gateway to campus.

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The building’s large overhangs and screen wall reduce glare inside the reading room in the morning hours.

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Harnessing Natural and Digital Resources

Peninsula College Library Media Center

Port Angeles, WA

Gateway Building for an Evolving Campus

The library is organized around a spacious reading room with a commanding view of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Vancouver Island, creating a magnet for students, faculty and community members. The design advances technical capabilities while harmonizing with the college’s original, 1960s wood-framed structures.

Sustainable Strategies for Health and Comfort

The building supports occupant health and comfort by harnessing natural resources of the Olympic Peninsula, where energy sources are limited and overcast days are common. A geothermal heat system and underfloor air distribution plenum maximize energy efficiency, indoor air quality and acoustic performance. Balanced, glare-free daylighting provides comfortable reading conditions with minimal electrical lighting, even in cloudy conditions.

Strengthening Campus Connections

The Library Media Center and Faculty Administration Building frame a new gateway to campus and central courtyard for formal events and passing conversations. Rainwater from the roofs and paved surfaces is diverted to cascading rain gardens and bio-swales that incorporate Northwest natives and address groundwater pollution.

Client

Peninsula College

Overview

New 26,700 sf library and media access center, and 7,500 sf faculty administration building that frame a new gateway to campus

Program

Library features a central reading room, computer classroom, conference rooms, student study rooms, circulation and administration areas; the faculty administration building includes offices and support, conference room and the president’s office suite

Size

34,200 sf; 3 acres

Sustainable Metrics

LEED Silver, Certified

Completion Date

2008

Services

Architecture, Interior Design

Collaborators

Designed as Schacht Aslani Architects

Peninsula College Maier Hall Port Angeles, WA +

Seattle University Lemieux Library and McGoldrick Learning Commons Seattle, WA +

UCLA Towell Library Los Angeles, CA +

Peninsula College Allied Health and Early Childhood Development Center Port Angeles, WA +

The triangular roof form extends to create a covered porch at the library’s main entrance.

The library and faculty administration building establish a contemporary and durable material palette for campus development.

View of the library and pedestrian bridge connection from the faculty administration building.

The exposed reading room structure extends outdoors to create a large covered porch at the main entrance, blurring boundaries between indoors and outdoors.

The reading room features a commanding view of the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Vancouver Island, creating a magnet for students, faculty and community members.

The faculty administration building (left) and library (right) frame a new gateway to campus.

The building’s large overhangs and screen wall reduce glare inside the reading room in the morning hours.

Harnessing Natural and Digital Resources

Peninsula College Library Media Center