Winthrop Library is Honored as a Building of the Year!
/The new Winthrop Library, which opened is doors in June of 2022, has been honored as a runner up by the Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce as Building of the Year!
the design was inspired by open-air hay barns found in the methow valley / photo by benj drummond
Inspired by the open-air agrarian buildings and barns in the region, the design for the new library in Winthrop, Washington includes broad overhangs, open roof trusses, and a visible interior structure. Johnston Architects’ co-founders’ deep roots in and knowledge of the Methow landscape and community are reflected in the design’s intentionality and aesthetic.
the new library includes an already-beloved makerspace \ photo by benj drummond
The library can hold a collection of over 20,000 materials and includes study tables, casual counter seating, lounge seating and window seats. Computers with internet access help narrow the digital divide in a community with diverse economic demographics. A maker space with a 3D printer and other hands-on technology and art options broaden the patron pool, and a divisible, public meeting room is accessible after hours.
The design team shifted window openings, doorways, overhangs, and a slatted wooden scrim to best control heat gain and glare during the Methow Valley’s arid summers.
the children’s library includes a kids-only restroom surrounded in a custom installation designed by ja / photo by benj drummond
You can learn more about this honor on the DJC website!
Natural and wildlife-inspired design elements were brought into the space, creating an immersive experience for patrons of all ages, including a sculptural “learning tree” made by a local artist that provides an interior niche. Created by Johnston Architects, a plywood-clad “cube” in the acoustically separate children’s area has a custom-designed animal motif, which contains activity desks and built-in reading cubbies to complete the whimsical design — and camouflage a children’s restroom. Additionally, a teen area and a librarian’s workroom were incorporated. A cozy fireplace beckons patrons from the front door to the far end of the space, where large windows frame the unique Methow landscape.