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 names | Cedar River Library, Renton Main Library |
| General information | |
| Address | 100 Mill Avenue South |
| Town or city | Renton, Washington |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 47°28′55″N 122°12′07″W / 47.482°N 122.202°W |
| Opened | April 17, 1966 |
| Renovated | 2014–2015 |
| Cost | $327,560 |
| Client | City of Renton |
| Owner | King County Library System |
| Technical details | |
| Floor area | 19,500 sq ft (1,810 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Felix M. Campanella and David Arthur Johnston Johnston-Campanella & Company |
| Main contractor | Alton V. Phillips and Company |
| Renovating team | |
| Architect(s) | Miller Hull Partnership |
| Engineer | Talasea Consultants, Inc. (enviro.) |
| Structural engineer | Coughlin Porter Lundeen |
| Services engineer | PAE Consulting Engineers (mech./plumbing) |
| Other designers | Christa Jansen (B&H Architects) (int.) |
| Main contractor | Construction Enterprises & Contractors |
| Awards and prizes | |
| 1966 data via HistoryLink;[1] 2015 renovation data via Chicago Athenaeum[2] and from Daily Journal of Commerce[3] | |
Design and construction
editThe 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
editThe 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][4]
Salmon viewing
editThe library's location over the Cedar River is considered a prime location to view spawning Northwest salmon species including Sockeye, Coho and Chinook.[9][10][11][12]
References
edit- ^ 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
- ^ a b Bartley, Nancy (August 19, 2013). "Down by the river, a fight over the fate of the Renton Library". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
- ^ "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
- ^ 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
- ^ Mayor, Jeffrey P. (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
External links
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