Members of the renovation project team for the Astoria Public Library celebrate at the ceremonial groundbreaking on Sept. 3, 2024. L-R: David Wark (Hennebery Eddy Architects),Parker McCarthy (O’Brien), Elisabeth Adams (Astoria City Councilor), Sean Fitzpatrick (City of Astoria Mayor), Suzanne Harold (Astoria Public Library Director), Scott Spence (City of Astoria Manager), Derek Salo (O’Brien), Brian Hardebeck (OTAK CPM), Keeley O’Brien (O’Brien), Chris Mallett (O’Brien).
The long-awaited renovation of the Astoria Public Library has officially broken ground, marking the start of an exciting new chapter for the community. This project, years in the making, is set to transform the library into a modern, welcoming space that fosters education, connection, and creativity for residents of all ages. The renovation will double the usable building space, add media and meeting rooms, and expand the children’s and teen areas.
The renovation modernizes the building to meet 21st-century library requirements, including additional meeting rooms, a media room, expanded programming spaces, a larger children’s area, and improved accessibility. The $10.7M project is supported by an $8M bond measure passed with overwhelming voter support in November 2022. Construction is anticipated to conclude in Fall 2025.
The Astoria Library, built in 1967, was designed by Ebba Wicks Brown, the second licensed female architect in Oregon. The renovation retains the building’s refined midcentury Brutalist/International style while introducing daylight and opening the library to the streetscape. By expanding into the basement, which is visually connected to the main level by an open staircase, the project doubles the usable space in the building to 18,000 square feet and creates new social spaces, a gallery, and areas for kids and teenagers. There will also be space for archives, storage, and the Astoriana Room for historical and retrospective collections.
Rendering of the library exterior. Replacing portions of the exterior with expansive glazing floods the interior with daylight and provides visual connections to the pedestrian realm. Image credit: © Hennebery Eddy Architects
“Starting construction on this community-supported library renovation is an exciting milestone for the City of Astoria,” said Suzanne Harold, Astoria Library Director. “This renovation truly honors and embraces Astoria’s culture and history, while transforming the library into a modern, relevant space for the many Astorians who use our rich resources each day. From bond support to participation during the design process, the Astoria Library is truly by and for our entire community.”
Designed by Hennebery Eddy Architects and constructed by O’Brien, the renovation design reflects the input of the Astoria community provided through focus groups with teens, seniors, young families, advocates for houseless individuals, and the indigenous local Native community. When complete, the library will serve as a vibrant gathering place for Astoria’s diverse community.
During construction, the library will operate from a temporary location at 1512 Duane St. in downtown Astoria. Library patrons can also check out materials online and at the nearby Warrenton and Seaside libraries with their Astoria library cards. Building project updates can be found HERE.
Rendering of the library reading room. The renovation will retain the building’s refined midcentury Brutalist/International style. Removing part of the floor allows for expansion into the basement with visual connection between the two floors. Image credit: © Hennebery Eddy Architects
About Astoria Public Library
The Astoria Public Library was founded in 1892 as a subscription library, later becoming a public library run by the City. It moved four times in its first 75 years, finally settling at its current location in 1967. The Library’s mission is to explore ideas, engage minds, and excite imagination. It provides programs and materials for all ages, from birth through adulthood. As a member of the Northwest Library Cooperative, the Astoria Public Library shares its collection with the libraries in Seaside and Warrenton, creating a network of services for all library patrons in Clatsop County.
About Hennebery Eddy Architects
Driven by a passion for community, connecting people to nature, and making others successful, Hennebery Eddy Architects designs to inspire, foster belonging, and contribute to a regenerative future. We are thoughtful architects, planners, interior designers, and preservationists who create spaces where people gather, work, learn, and recreate. Founded and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, our staff of more than 100 serves clients throughout the West with additional studios in Bend, Oregon, and Bozeman, Montana.
About O’Brien
O’Brien builds the places people love, from hotels, wineries, and restaurants to multifamily housing, luxury homes, manufacturing hubs, and civic facilities. As a trailblazer in the early integration of design and construction in the Pacific Northwest, O’Brien offers a range of delivery methods—design-build, construction manager/general contractor, or design-bid-build—ensuring the highest value for clients. Our collaborative approach fosters innovation, creativity, and exceptional results. With five offices spanning the Oregon Coast, Portland Metro, Willamette Valley, and Central Oregon, our team members live and work in the communities we serve. We are driven by a shared commitment to help these communities thrive.
Source: City of Astoria Press Release, Sept. 18, 2024