Ballard Library and Neighborhood Service Center

Seattle Public Library, Seattle, Washington

The Ballard Library and Neighborhood Service Center draws on this established Seattle neighborhood's Scandinavian and maritime roots, while focusing on its future as a popular community composed of a younger, more diverse population.

The building presents a powerful civic face along a pedestrian corridor. Its main entry is pulled back from the street to make a deep front porch, where exterior site furnishings are grouped to encourage human interaction and reinforce the civic nature of this sheltered space.

Individually metered, photovoltaic glass panels shade the Neighborhood Service Center lobby, demonstrating the effectiveness of photovoltaic technology in a Pacific Northwest environment.

The project effectively illustrates that green building is feasible within a modest budget, and offers the Ballard community an ideal example of the benefits to be realized when sustainable design and extraordinary architecture come together.

Awards

2009 Green GOOD DESIGN
The European Center for Architecture and The Chicago Athenaeum

2009 Beyond Green Award
Sustainable Buildings Industry Council

2008 Special Award
Wood Design Awards

2008 Award for Excellence in Place Design
Environmental Design Research Association and Metropolis Magazine

2007 Design Award
AIA/ALA Library Design Awards

2007 Merit Award for Design
AIA Northwest and Pacific Region

2006 Top Ten Green Projects
American Institute of Architects, Committee on the Environment

2006 National Honor Award for Design
American Institute of Architects

2006 Commendation
AIA Seattle

2006 Green Roof Award of Excellence, Extensive Institutional Category
Green Roofs for Healthy Cities

2005 Honor Award for Civic Design
AIA Washington Council

2003 Commendation for Design Excellence and Innovation
Seattle Design Commission

Ballard Library and Neighborhood Service Center

Seattle Public Library, Seattle, Washington

Awards

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