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Wednesday, April 1, 2026
From Vision to Delivery: Building a Landmark Mass Timber Library for Multnomah County
Oregon Ballroom 202About the session...
East County Library is Multnomah County’s largest new library project and the most significant undertaking within a $387 million bond program to expand and modernize public library facilities. From the outset, the project team embraced an ambitious guiding question: How do we create a forest out of a building? That vision set the tone for an unprecedented level of collaboration among architects, engineers, contractors, fabricators, and county stakeholders—positioning sustainability, beauty, and community impact as core responsibilities rather than aspirational goals.
Drawing inspiration from the Pacific Northwest’s landscapes, the 95,000-square-foot, $112 million library features exposed cross-laminated timber panels and custom split-laminated columns and beams that evoke the experience of walking through old-growth trees. A double-height public “living room,” framed by an expressive timber canopy, celebrates structure, daylight, and material honesty while serving as a civic gathering space rooted in place.
This session explores how the team translated architectural ambition into a buildable, cost-conscious solution through early and sustained collaboration. Topics include preconstruction strategies that prioritized early engagement with mass timber and MEP trade partners; evaluation of mass timber systems (CLT versus MPP); development of efficient wood-to-wood connections; CNC fabrication and detailing strategies; and creative routing and concealment of building systems to preserve architectural intent. The discussion will also highlight budgeting approaches, early material procurement to mitigate price volatility, and planning for critical yet often overlooked factors such as temporary protection, humidity control, and weather mitigation.
Attendees will gain insight into how visual cost studies, virtual design and construction (VDC), mock-ups, and iterative design calibration supported informed decision-making and alignment across disciplines. The result is a landmark example of how technical rigor, fiscal accountability, and shared vision can converge to deliver emotionally resonant, high-performance public architecture at scale using mass timber.
