An exterior rendering of the new Northwest LIbrary on Pettygrove Street. Rendering: Hennebery Eddy Architects
Multnomah County Library has broken ground on its new Northwest Library at NW 20th Avenue and Pettygrove Street.
Why it matters: The library will serve the NW Portland area, including the newest part of Slabtown, which is emerging from the former Con-Way parking lot.
State of play: Work began last week on the 11,000-square-foot library six blocks from the existing one on NW 23rd Avenue.
It will be in a remodeled building which the library bought in 2021 using money from a voter-approved capital bond.
Zoom in: The design team from Hennebery Eddy Architects gathered feedback from senior citizens, families, teens, people experiencing homelessness and the neighborhood association.
New features will include a large play and learning space for children and families, flexible meeting spaces for the community and a dedicated teen area with technology optimized for gaming and video conferencing.
What we're watching: The $20 million project is expected to open next summer.
What's next: More new libraries will also open on Holgate Boulevard in 2024 and in East County in 2026.
