Renovation of Renton Library by The Miller Hull Partnership, Award of Honor
24/11/2017.
AIA Seattle's 2017 Honor Awards [Renton, Washington] USA
metalocus, ÁNGEL BLANCO
metalocus, ÁNGEL BLANCO
The original structure, while iconic, could not be built over a river today given current environmental restrictions. Planned improvements were required to respect those restrictions by avoiding impacts to the habitat below the existing structure. With code upgrades requiring additional foundation work, the firm was faced with balancing significant constraints. They creatively found a way to buttress the structure landward of the existing pilings—both streamlining the construction process and protecting sensitive habitat.
Renovation of Renton Library by Miller Hull Partnership. Photograph © Lara Swimmer. Image courtesy of AIA Seattle
Renovation of Renton Library by Miller Hull Partnership. Photograph © Lara Swimmer. Image courtesy of AIA Seattle
Renovation of Renton Library by Miller Hull Partnership. Photograph © Lara Swimmer. Image courtesy of AIA Seattle
Renovation of Renton Library by Miller Hull Partnership. Photograph © Lara Swimmer. Image courtesy of AIA Seattle
Renovation of Renton Library by Miller Hull Partnership. Photograph © Lara Swimmer. Image courtesy of AIA Seattle
Renovation of Renton Library by Miller Hull Partnership. Photograph © Lara Swimmer. Image courtesy of AIA Seattle
Renovation of Renton Library by Miller Hull Partnership. Photograph © Lara Swimmer. Image courtesy of AIA Seattle
Renovation of Renton Library by Miller Hull Partnership. Photograph © Lara Swimmer. Image courtesy of AIA Seattle
Renovation of Renton Library by Miller Hull Partnership. Photograph © Lara Swimmer. Image courtesy of AIA Seattle
Renovation of Renton Library by Miller Hull Partnership. Photograph © Lara Swimmer. Image courtesy of AIA Seattle
Renovation of Renton Library by Miller Hull Partnership. Photograph © Lara Swimmer. Image courtesy of AIA Seattle
Renovation of Renton Library by Miller Hull Partnership. Photograph © Lara Swimmer. Image courtesy of AIA Seattle
Renovation of Renton Library by Miller Hull Partnership. Photograph © Lara Swimmer. Image courtesy of AIA Seattle
Urban site plan. Renovation of Renton Library by Miller Hull Partnership. Image courtesy of AIA Seattle
Site plan. Renovation of Renton Library by Miller Hull Partnership. Image courtesy of AIA Seattle
Rendering. Renovation of Renton Library by Miller Hull Partnership. Image courtesy of AIA Seattle
Elevations. Renovation of Renton Library by Miller Hull Partnership. Image courtesy of AIA Seattle
Structure. Renovation of Renton Library by Miller Hull Partnership. Image courtesy of AIA Seattle
Sections. Renovation of Renton Library by Miller Hull Partnership. Image courtesy of AIA Seattle
Miller Hull renovated Renton’s 1966 library, built over a bridge—but with unfortunately small windows and a limiting design. The project involved opening up the space, exposing industrial details and adding floor-to-ceiling, energy-efficient windows to bring in the Cedar River view. The project was recently AIA Seattle's 2017 Honor Award.
"Kudos to those who fought to keep the library where it is, and kudos to the engineers and designers who brought us this modern beauty."
Brian Beckley, editor, Renton Reporter
Description of project by Miller Hull Partnership
The original 1966 library structure was constructed to iconically straddle the Cedar River with views to the water, railway, and active salmon habitat. Its unique location was well loved by generations of community members and well worth preserving. When built in 1966, the original building was an engineering feat. Its pre-cast concrete T beams, concrete columns and wood truss joists created an impressive 80-foot central clear span on the interior. By 2015, however, the exterior envelope was failing and not compliant with current energy codes. Its structural system was not fit to withstand current seismic criteria nor potential liquefaction of the alluvial soils. In addition, its building systems were not able to keep up with the increased demands of a 21st century library, heavy in power and data usage.
The design team’s goal was to celebrate and reveal the inherent bridge structure in a language recalling Renton’s legacy of engineering. New cross bracing and raw aluminum siding was celebrates a structurally expressive and finely crafted exterior expression. The renovation maintained the original super structure, but introduced a new energy efficient exterior envelope with floor to ceiling views to the river. By removing the interior attic space concealing the trusses, the interior volume increased in height by nearly 5 feet. Trimming back the existing overhang brought more daylight into the building and created a lightweight, taut bridge expression.
Redistributing services throughout the concrete bridge structure proved to be problematic, so out of necessity, the building’s systems are revealed in the main public space as a way of putting the building’s “machine” on display. Digital information—essential to a 21st century library—was given celebrity status via power and data drops from the ceiling. These drops combine aircraft cable with steel connections and visually anchor the computer station “hubs” and study tables.
The client for this project reflected a unique partnership between a municipal city government and a county library system, one that was awarded the Governor’s Smart Communities Award for the State of Washington. The two entities collaborated on the entitlement process, design review and project administration. The team engaged stakeholders through a lengthy and passionate public process: open houses, council meetings, and specialized focus groups. These groups helped to inform the project in terms of public art, entry character, and site connections.
Saving this community treasure and improving it for another 50 years of safe and energy efficient use, was in itself an act of sustainability. The new high performance enclosure enclosed the existing structure and exceeded code-level performance by 5%.
The project restored visual and physical connections to the river by improving the safety and accessibility of the pedestrian connection. By removing the interior ceiling, the team was able to extend the average connection to daylight and views by an additional 4’.
More information
Client
King County Library System
Area
Size 19,718 SF
Dates
Completion 2015
Partnership, Miller Hull
The Miller Hull Partnership. After starting their careers at other architectural firms, David Miller and Robert Hull (1945-2014) founded their firm in 1977. They met as undergraduate students at Washington State University, after which they joined the Peace Corps. Serving in Brazil and Afghanistan respectively, both were struck by the raw beauty of indigenous structures that were economical, spartan and elegant in their response to climate and cultural conditions–the very essence of sustainable design.
This early exposure of working closely with people to construct and occupy buildings while making the most out of resources at hand had a lasting influence on The Miller Hull Partnership’s work. The work was inspired by Pacific Northwest Regionalism and they helped broaden its impact celebrating climate, geography and culture.
In early years the firm was primarily known for residential architecture. This was a natural, direct reflection of their strong feelings about the important role architecture plays in people’s lives. Beginning with homes and island cabins, over time the scope of projects has expanded to include everything from water treatment plants, to the busiest border crossing in the world, even US embassies abroad. Their portfolio emphasizes public buildings, but they design everything from schools, higher education facilities, nature centers, libraries, mixed-use buildings, laboratories and corporate offices. And yes, they still do some residential work–which now also includes multi-family and mixed-use buildings.
Their two studios, in Seattle and San Diego, strategically bracket the West Coast. Bob and Dave were jointly awarded both the Washington State University Distinguished Alumni Award in 2006, honoring alumni who have made significant contributions to society through their accomplishments, and the AIA Seattle Medal of Honor in 2010.
This early exposure of working closely with people to construct and occupy buildings while making the most out of resources at hand had a lasting influence on The Miller Hull Partnership’s work. The work was inspired by Pacific Northwest Regionalism and they helped broaden its impact celebrating climate, geography and culture.
In early years the firm was primarily known for residential architecture. This was a natural, direct reflection of their strong feelings about the important role architecture plays in people’s lives. Beginning with homes and island cabins, over time the scope of projects has expanded to include everything from water treatment plants, to the busiest border crossing in the world, even US embassies abroad. Their portfolio emphasizes public buildings, but they design everything from schools, higher education facilities, nature centers, libraries, mixed-use buildings, laboratories and corporate offices. And yes, they still do some residential work–which now also includes multi-family and mixed-use buildings.
Their two studios, in Seattle and San Diego, strategically bracket the West Coast. Bob and Dave were jointly awarded both the Washington State University Distinguished Alumni Award in 2006, honoring alumni who have made significant contributions to society through their accomplishments, and the AIA Seattle Medal of Honor in 2010.
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