Renton Public Library

The Renton Public Library is the King County Library System (KCLS) branch library in Renton, Washington, in the United States. It was a city library between its construction in 1966 and 2010, when it was one of the last three non-KCLS members in the county outside of Seattle and it was incorporated into KCLS after what may have been "the most contentious annexation fight in the system's 71 years".[4]

Renton Public Library
Renton Library spanning the Cedar River as it appeared in July 2019
Alternative namesCedar River Library, Renton Main Library
General information
Address100 Mill Avenue South
Town or cityRenton, Washington
CountryUnited States
Coordinates47.482°N 122.202°W / 47.482; -122.202
OpenedApril 17, 1966
Renovated2014–2015
Cost$327,560
ClientCity of Renton
OwnerKing County Library System
Technical details
Floor area19,500 sq ft (1,810 m2)
Design and construction
Architecture firmFelix M. Campanella and David Arthur Johnston
Johnston-Campanella & Company
Main contractorAlton V. Phillips and Company
Renovating team
Architect(s)Miller Hull Partnership
EngineerTalasea Consultants, Inc. (enviro.)
Structural engineerCoughlin Porter Lundeen
Services engineerPAE Consulting Engineers (mech./plumbing)
Other designersChrista Jansen (B&H Architects) (int.)
Main contractorConstruction Enterprises & Contractors
Awards and prizes
  • AIA/ALA Library Building Award (2016)
  • AIA Seattle Civic Design Honor Award (2017)
1966 data via HistoryLink;[1] 2015 renovation data via Chicago Athenaeum[2] and from Daily Journal of Commerce[3]

Design and construction

The library sits astride a river – the Cedar River – one of the only libraries in the United States to do so.[1]

The building is about 80 feet (24 m) long, spanning the river on a bridge-like precast concrete girder and tie system riding on pilings.[5]

Renovation

The library was closed June 22, 2014 for a $10.2 million renovation,[3] to include new pilings into the banks of the Cedar River for seismic retrofitting, and replacement of wall-mounted windows with floor-to-ceiling glass for better river views and natural light.[6] After renovation the library reopened in August, 2015.[3]

For the renovation, Miller Hull Partnership architects were awarded AIA/ALA Library Building Award in 2016,[3][7] then in 2017 won the American Institute of Architects Seattle chapter's Civic Design Honor Award for its rehabilitation.[8][9]

Salmon viewing

The library's location over the Cedar River is considered a prime location to view spawning Northwest salmon species including Sockeye, Coho and Chinook.[10][11][12][13]

References
  1. Linda Holden Givens (May 11, 2017), "Renton Library, King County Library System", HistoryLink, Seattle: History Ink
  2. Renton Public Library, Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design, 2016, retrieved 2017-11-14
  3. "Renton's unique 1960s library gets a new exterior, interior and top award", Daily Journal of Commerce, Portland, Oregon, April 18, 2016
  4. Nancy Bartley (August 19, 2013), Down by the river, a fight over the fate of the Renton Library, The Seattle Times
  5. "City of Renton, Public Library, Main Library, Renton, WA", Pacific Coast Architecture Database, University of Washington, retrieved 2017-11-14
  6. Renton Library over the Cedar River – Closure FAQs (PDF) (flyer), City of Renton, Washington
  7. "Renton Public Library – The Miller Hull Partnership", Architect, April 12, 2016
  8. 2017 Honor Award Winners, AIA Seattle, November 14, 2017
  9. Bartley, Nancy. "Down by the river, a fight over the fate of the Renton Library". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  10. Follow the Cedar River Salmon Journey, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Water and Land Resources Division, retrieved 2017-11-14
  11. Lake Washington Sockeye Salmon Viewing Opportunities, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, retrieved 2017-11-14
  12. Jeffrey P. Mayor (October 23, 2014), "Here's where to see spawning salmon in Western Washington", The Tacoma News Tribune – via The Seattle Times
  13. Ryan, John C. (1999), Seven Wonders: Everyday Things for a Healthier Planet, Sierra Club Books, ISBN 1578050383
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