Renton Public Library

47°28′55″N 122°12′07″W / 47.482°N 122.202°W / 47.482; -122.202OpenedApril 17, 1966Renovated2014–2015Cost$327,560ClientCity of RentonOwnerKing County Library SystemTechnical detailsFloor area19,500 sq ft (1,810 m²)Design and constructionArchitecture firmFelix M. Campanella and David Arthur Johnston
Johnston-Campanella & CompanyMain contractorAlton V. Phillips and CompanyRenovating teamArchitect(s)Miller Hull PartnershipEngineerTalasea Consultants, Inc. (enviro.)Structural engineerCoughlin Porter LundeenServices engineerPAE Consulting Engineers (mech./plumbing)Other designersChrista Jansen (B&H Architects) (int.)Main contractorConstruction Enterprises & ContractorsAwards 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]

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]

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

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