Multnomah County Library Operations Center Renovation & Expansion / Hennebery Eddy Architects

Architects: Hennebery Eddy Architects
Area: 73,000 ft²
Photography: Kevin Scott
Lead Architects: David Wark
Architects Team: Meg Matsushima, Tereza Wiest, Alexis Wilson, Alexander Lungershausen, Haley Teske, Bianca Baccarini, Dan Petrescu, Patrick Turina
Contractor: Fortis Construction, Inc.
Structural Engineering: James G. Pierson, Inc.
Civil Engineering: KPFF Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Landscape Design: Place Studio LLC
Lighting Design: Biella Lighting Design
Mechanical Engineering: Arris Consulting
Electrical Engineering: Interface Engineering, Inc.
Acoustical Engineering: The Greenbusch Group, Inc.
Sustainability Consultant: Project Pivot
Theatrical/AV: The Greenbusch Group, Inc.
Client: Multnomah County Library
City: Portland, Oregon
Country: United States

The Multnomah County Library Operations Center Renovation & Expansion transforms a vacant grocery store in Portland, Oregon, into a centralized operational hub serving one of the region’s largest public library systems. Designed by Hennebery Eddy Architects, the 73,000-square-foot adaptive reuse project consolidates collection management, logistics, outreach services, and administrative functions within a single facility, improving efficiency across the countywide network. The fossil fuel-free building is designed to achieve LEED Gold and Living Future Net-Zero Energy certifications, supported by more than 600 photovoltaic panels that offset annual energy consumption. Interior environments prioritize employee well-being through abundant daylight, natural materials, enhanced air filtration, wellness spaces, and access to outdoor amenities. Advanced automated materials-handling systems support equitable service delivery by streamlining the distribution of library resources throughout Multnomah County. Through a combination of adaptive reuse, renewable energy generation, and workplace-focused design, the project demonstrates how civic infrastructure can advance both environmental performance and operational excellence.

Multnomah county library operations center renovation & expansion / hennebery eddy architects

The Multnomah County Library Operations Center occupies a largely vehicle-oriented area of east Portland, where an abandoned retail structure has been reimagined as a critical piece of public infrastructure. While libraries are often defined by their public-facing branches, this facility serves as the operational backbone of the entire system, supporting the movement, processing, and management of more than 500,000 catalogued materials. The project positions architecture as an enabler of public service, transforming a dormant commercial building into a highly specialized workplace that strengthens the library’s ability to serve communities across the county.

Hennebery Eddy Architects approached the renovation with a strong emphasis on creating a healthy and engaging environment for the employees who sustain the library network. Workstations, offices, and meeting rooms are arranged along the building perimeter to maximize access to daylight and views, while skylights introduce natural illumination into the central collections area. Wood finishes add warmth throughout the interior, complemented by large-scale murals developed in collaboration with community artists and the Portland Street Art Alliance. Together, these elements create a workplace that balances operational efficiency with a strong sense of human comfort and connection.

Employee wellness informed numerous aspects of the design. A second-floor terrace offers opportunities for outdoor respite, while private wellness rooms provide space for lactation support and personal needs. Enhanced air filtration systems help address regional air-quality challenges, including seasonal wildfire smoke, and structural upgrades improve seismic resilience. These interventions contribute to a workplace environment designed not only for productivity but also for long-term health, safety, and well-being.

Operational innovation is central to the facility’s mission. Automated materials-handling technology improves the distribution of books and resources throughout the county, allowing staff to focus more directly on patron services and community engagement. The building also accommodates Rose City Reads, a public bookstore operated by the Friends of Multnomah County Library, extending the project’s civic presence and creating an additional point of connection between library operations and the broader public.

Sustainability strategies are embedded throughout the project, beginning with the adaptive reuse of the existing grocery store structure. Reusing the building significantly reduced embodied carbon compared to new construction, while locally manufactured metal cladding containing recycled content further lowered environmental impacts. More than 600 photovoltaic panels are integrated into the architecture as both energy-generating and shading elements, producing an estimated 353,000 kilowatt-hours annually. Combined with a high-performance envelope, heat recovery ventilation systems, and responsible construction waste management practices, these measures position the Operations Center as a model for low-carbon civic architecture and demonstrate the environmental potential of large-scale adaptive reuse.