Maple Valley Library
The Maple Valley Library was designed to honor one of the last remaining stands of second-growth forest within city limits. Rather than clearing the site, Johnston Architects and the library team worked together to preserve more than 90 percent of the existing trees. The completed building sits quietly among the forest, filled with natural light and a sense of calm, offering the community a place to gather, learn, and connect with nature.
Details
LOCATION Maple Valley WA
SIZE 10,200 SF
COMPLETED 2000
PARTNER ARCHITECT James Cutler Architects
AWARDS + RECOGNITION
2003 Nov/Dec, Architecture Magazine
2002 AIA National Honor Award
2002 AIA NW + PR Honor Award
2001 AIA Seattle Honor Award
2001 Wood Design + Building, Honor Award
Walls of glass and high clerestories bring daylight deep into the building. At night, the library glows as a beacon within the trees, its simple shed roof and exposed wood structure echoing the forest beyond.
The library’s U-shaped plan cradles a series of outdoor rooms framed by vine maples, cedar, and Douglas fir. Lounge areas and reading nooks orient visitors toward these natural landmarks.
Rainwater is collected from the roof and directed into a moss garden ring, symbolizing the ongoing relationship between water, forest, and community.
A nurse log outside the reading loggia offers a visible reminder of the forest’s life cycle. Inside, warm materials and framed views reinforce a strong connection to the surrounding landscape.
