Regions We Serve
East County Library is a new 95,000-square-foot public library in Gresham, Oregon, designed to serve as a major civic destination for learning, creativity, and connection in East Multnomah County. Located on a former park-and-ride site adjacent to transit and public gathering space, the two-story facility was created through extensive community engagement and now offers a welcoming, highly programmed environment for a culturally and linguistically diverse community.
The building features a 200-seat auditorium for lectures, performances, and cultural celebrations, as well as creative learning spaces, an audiovisual studio, sensory rooms, expansive children’s and teen areas, reservable community rooms, and a rooftop terrace with sweeping views. East County Library also houses a large collection of nearly 200,000 books, CDs, and DVDs, making it both a modern public resource and a regional destination for gathering and discovery.
Scopes: Light Gauge Metal Framing, Insulation, Drywall, Taping, Acoustical Systems, Weather Barrier, Exterior Claddings
WPI’s work helped bring to life a highly detailed civic building shaped by Pacific Northwest design influences, natural materials, and a broad mix of public-facing spaces. The project’s forest-inspired architectural expression, mass timber structure, generous daylighting, and blend of active and quiet environments required thoughtful execution across both interior and exterior assemblies.
From the auditorium and community rooms to the creative learning spaces and exterior gathering areas, East County Library was designed to support durability, comfort, and a strong sense of place for the community it serves.
The completed East County Library transforms an underutilized site into a new community landmark that expands access to library services, technology, gathering space, and cultural programming for East County residents. Designed to reflect the character of the surrounding community, the project creates a vibrant public environment where people can learn, create, connect, and participate in civic life.
In addition to its civic impact, the library advances meaningful sustainability goals through its mass timber structure sourced from regional forests, LEED Gold target, radiant floor systems, air-source heat pumps, daylight-driven design, bird-safe glazing, and rooftop solar array. The result is a future-focused public building that balances performance, resilience, and community benefit in one of the most significant projects delivered through Multnomah County Library’s capital bond program.
