Northgate Branch Highlights
The Northgate Branch fosters an urban gathering place for the community. A nearby community center and park connect to the library with a shared plaza.
The library has seating that looks out on the lawn. Multiple rocking chairs are excellent places to curl up and read a book.
History
Serving the Northgate community since 2003
In the late 20th century, The Seattle Public Library joined forces with Seattle Parks and Recreation. They wanted to build a community center, a library and park in the Northgate neighborhood. The city departments bought property along Fifth Avenue Northeast, just across the street from Northgate Mall.
In 2003, the Library opened a Temporary Service Site on the Northgate property. The site helped provide service while other branches in North Seattle were closed. There was a boom of library construction in the 2000s thanks to the voter-approved 1998 Libraries for All building program.
The temporary site closed in 2004 to prepare for construction of the new 10,000-square-foot branch library. The Northgate Branch opened July 15, 2006. Within an hour of the branch opening, thousands of books were checked out.
Architecture
The project won a gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating from the U.S. Green Building Council. It has many aspects of sustainable design. The building has outdoor lights that cast downward and don't contribute to light pollution. An underground, 149,000-gallon stormwater retention vault collects runoff to irrigate the site.
The design team added decorative books high above the holds shelf. The Friends of The Seattle Public Library donated the books.
Architects: The Miller|Hull Partnership, 2006.
Art
Artwork includes a stone sculpture by Dr. Rita Kepner, glasswork for the branch by Portland artist Dana Lynn Louis, metal waves for the plaza by Olympia artist Nikki McClure, and glass blocks, birdhouses and resting places by Portland artist Linda Wysong for the sidewalk and path.