Firm: Integrus Architecture

Project Name: The Hive

Project Statement: This project is the most community-responsive project of a complete system overhaul of the Spokane Public Library facilities. The driving forces of the 13,700 sf building developed from a unique planning process facilitated by the design team to engage the community through town hall discussions at all six existing libraries and a series of Community Advisory Committee meetings consisting of civic leaders, community activists, and members of Spokane’s BIPOC communities. The process painted a clear picture of an underserved minority community centered around the East Central Library, the city’s smallest branch.

A partnership was forged between Spokane Public Library (SPL) and Spokane Public Schools (SPS) to create the innovative mix of programs identified through the community centric process. The space would offer a new concept of library for SPL, serving the community’s need for meeting space and access to arts education, as well as house SPS’s Virtual Learning program. The space allows free 24/7 access and rather than a collection of books and computers it provides a collection of spaces that can be “checked-out” for meeting, training, and creating.

Inspiration & Integration
The space was envisioned to extend the concept of library and serve the community’s need for meeting space and access to arts education and in a complete system overhaul of the Spokane Public Library facilities, this 24/7 accessed building is a library where you check out studio, training room, and meeting space, not books.
Designed with community connection at its core, it is by purpose a gathering place for all peoples and community members. The public can see artist studios from both the exterior public sidewalk and interior “gallery / spine” which features glass garage doors to provide greater access to artists and their work by the casual user. The 13,700 sf shared facility is organized by an east/west spine which functions for both display and collaboration space for building users, as well as for social functions. This spine connects all program elements of the building with studio spaces and training rooms to the north for desirable ambient light, and gallery and virtual learning/continuing education spaces to the south.
Lifelong learning for all ages is made possible by individual studio spaces where activities from painting and macrame’ to building a canoe can occur.
The space’s material palette was simplified and minimized so that the structural materials of exposed wood, glu-lam beams, wood or metal decking and polished concrete are also the finish material wherever possible. The raw materials are complimented by animated, simple gestures of signage and experiential graphics to create an intended ‘buzz’ in this commercial strip context.

Social Impact
This project represents a concerted effort to bring together similar but subtly different functions under one roof with the overarching goal of providing a shared multifaceted resource for the community. Design for social impact included:

Partnership: Two publicly focused owners and the community.
– Spokane Public Library: Artist-in-Residence Program
– Spokane Public Schools: Virtual Learning Program
– East Central Neighborhood

Location: Centrally located in the East Central neighborhood on a commercial arterial and bus route.
Access: Use is free, spaces are reserved on-line and open all hours. Visually accessible and transparent, so learning and extends beyond the building walls.

Through an intensive and inclusive community engagement process strong relationships were developed between SPL, SPS, the design team, and community stakeholders. The community’s vision and creative thinking played a significant role in the solution as a facility and program like this had never been done before, there was no precedent.

The space goes beyond what is required by the state energy code to provide a building that is efficient and low maintenance. Design for environmental sensitivity includes:

- Urban Infill Site: Previous buildings were razed and to become a used car lot but sat vacant for some time prior to this project’s inception.

- Materials: Use of everyday materials in innovative ways (as discussed above). Exposing the building’s inherent construction to act as the ‘finish’ reduces the need for additional unnecessary finishes. Efficient and repeatable 4’ module reduces material waste.

- Landscape: Approximately 50 trees added to the 1.8 acre site, native plantings along the street, turf is minimized to spaces that support building programs, and high efficiency irrigation is estimated to provide water savings of at least 50%.

- Water: Consumption is reduced by 35% when compared to baseline design requirements.

- Energy: High efficiency equipment that exceeds state energy code requirements – boiler, chiller and VFD for water pump. Integration with building controls to condition as-needed.

Mark Dailey
Principal
Megan Onley
Interior Designer
Steven Clark

Ty Miller

Jose Barajas

Toby Peterson

Robert Graper

| Group 4 Architecture | | Library Consultant

| MW Consulting Engineers | | Mechanical & Electrical

| AHBL | | Civil & Landscape