La Conner

The La Conner Swinomish Library, a 5,400-square-foot community hub, demonstrates collaboration between native and non-native communities. This LEED Silver-certified building honors local history and serves the Skagit region.

Close collaboration between client, city, and designers maximized community resources within the limited space. Historic district guidelines influenced the library's architecture and lighting, requiring study of local styles. To minimize impact on neighboring homes and the library's interior reading spaces, the design team selected unobtrusive lighting for the rear parking lot.

Patrons are greeted by an illuminated story pole, traditional to the Swinomish tribe and executed by a master carver. Ground-mounted, Bluetooth-enabled fixtures with hue adjustment provide flexibility for maintenance and artist preference. These tactics are used throughout to highlight local artwork.

The library offers spaces and services within a small footprint, including dedicated areas for children, teens, computers, and work areas. Adorning a 24-foot-long tugboat that defines the children's space, linear seat lighting and marine-inspired sconces connect the reading nook to the town's historic waterfront. Similarly, porthole-style pendants and surface-mounted fixtures provide functional illumination, ensuring the technical balance of horizontal and vertical illumination, and code-required light levels.

Attention to detail and cross-discipline collaboration are showcased in the custom-routed conduit, snaking through the exposed structure, skylights, and HVAC elements. Effective daylight harvesting and sophisticated control zones within such a small footprint allow immense control zone flexibility for user comfort and energy savings.

With a goal to produce an authentic yet modern outcome, the La Conner Swinomish Library's story will be read and celebrated for years to come.