JA is leading the design of a new Sumner Library in collaboration with Architecture for Everyone. The client’s goal is to create a public space that is welcoming and anticipates the evolving needs of the community. The design incorporates elements of the history of Sumner while creating unique spaces for a diverse mix of patrons, including areas for children and tweens, a teen-focused hang out area, and adult reading and lounge areas. Additional spaces include study rooms, flexible meeting areas, a courtyard, and multi-purpose spaces. Equitable access to technology and learning resources will strengthen community connections while providing patrons with a feeling of belonging.

The library’s exterior façade navigates the shifts in scale with the ground level clad in wood and a metal roofline reflecting the sky. Oversized windows provide moments of entry and intrigue meant to draw the public inside. The interior contrasts the rectilinear shape of the exterior with a softly curved double height center volume that guide patrons from the larger main stacks into smaller reading rooms and specialized areas around the perimeter.

The team is pursuing LEED Silver certification, striving to minimize the project’s carbon footprint. The site straddles the public Main Street and adjacent residential properties, so creating a mindful design that addresses both scales of surrounding context was vital to a successful project and long-term sustainability.

PARTNER ARCHITECT Architecture for Everyone
LOCATION Sumner WA
AREA 20,000 SF
STATUS Ongoing