2025 West Best Projects
Award of Merit, Cultural/Worship: Multnomah County Midland Library
Multnomah County Midland Library
Portland, Ore.
Award of Merit
Submitted by Swinerton Builders
Owner Multnomah County Oregon
Lead Design Firm Bora Architecture & Interiors
General Contractor Swinerton Builders
Civil Engineer Vega
Structural Engineer Equilibrium Engineers LLC
MEP Engineer Arris Consulting; Samata Consulting Engineers LLC
Renovating an active public facility while simultaneously constructing a mass timber addition demanded careful phasing and coordination to minimize disruptions and ensure safety.
Midland Library’s $20.16-million expansion included a 24,000-sq-ft renovation with new finishes, upgraded telecommunications, modern interactive layouts and high-efficiency HVAC systems, plus a 6,000-sq-ft mass timber addition featuring flex rooms, local showcase spaces, a children’s play area and a community patio.
Through a target value design approach, the project team developed detailed cost estimates at key design milestones, keeping the project on budget. More than $1.1 million in direct cost reductions were made at the 100% schematic design stage, which helped the team achieve the project scope within budget.
Using renewable mass timber for the new addition reduced the building’s carbon footprint and showcased the potential of sustainable materials in public infrastructure. In addition to reusing some artwork from the original space, the team also partnered with artists local to the Portland area to curate custom items.
When faced with delays on some custom artwork, the team resequenced the schedule to allow for later installation, which helped ensure on-time delivery.
