AIA Washington Civic Design Awards, Merit Award, 2013
A New Civic Heart
Newcastle Library
Newcastle, WA
The Evolving Library
This library is the community heart at the center of Newcastle’s evolving civic village. The modern structure redefines the role of a small town library by introducing traditional components in new ways – like the reinvented grand reading room that instills a sense of pride, and inspires gatherings.
Inspiring Civic Engagement
Sited in the heart of the retail core, the library’s transparent façade and glowing Gathering Porch welcome the community inside. The flexible reading and meeting spaces offer patrons a comfortable destination to gain knowledge, join a community discussion, attend a reading or sink into a good book.
Environmental Champion
Newcastle Library exudes a deep commitment to sustainability. Features include a geothermal heat exchange system, operable exterior sun shading, passive natural ventilation, and a 100,000-gallon stormwater cistern. An extensive vegetative roof reduces runoff contaminants by naturally absorbing pollutants and releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere.