Timber columns rise through openings in the ceiling of the east county library gresham in Oregon. They are the structure, not a decorative theme. Holst Architecture arranged them to read as tree trunks under a canopy, so the forest reference lives in the construction itself.
The library opened on May 16, 2026, and occupies about 95,000 square feet. It serves eastern Multnomah County, where more than 40 percent of residents live east of Interstate 205. Holst led the design and worked with Adjaye Associates through the design development phase.
East County previously had the library system’s smallest footprint. Since then, the surrounding population has grown 50 percent. The new building is comparable in size to Portland‘s Central Library.
Adjaye Associates remained on the project through the design development phase. Holst’s Brittany Shreiner, who had developed a deep technical understanding of the building, moved into the role of design principal. The Multnomah County Library’s $387 million bond, approved by voters in November 2020, funded the project, which cost $163 million according to Holst’s project release.
A park-and-ride becomes a civic address
The east county library gresham replaces a former park-and-ride at NW Division Street and NW Eastman Parkway. The site sits between a busy parkway, a major rail station, and a high-speed bus stop.
A tree-lined pedestrian path links the MAX light rail stop and a new Civic Hub on the north edge of the site to a terraced entry plaza on Division Street. Holst’s project page notes that the Civic Hub will host events and markets, and that it complements Gresham City Hall and Plaza across the light rail tracks. The approach becomes part of the public experience, not just a way in.
The approach here treats the path to the building as civic space, much like a plaza that blends landscape and culture. Zehua Zhang’s Roosevelt Island plaza blending nature and culture shows how public ground can carry the same idea.
Structure and materials
The building’s structure is primarily heavy timber, an unusual choice in library architecture. A board-formed concrete base supports massive timber columns and fluted ultra-high-performance concrete panels.
The timber structure uses glulam beams and CLT panels. That system keeps the wood exposed without extra fire-resistant treatments. The visible faces of the cross-laminated timber panels are Douglas fir, matching the columns and beams.
The sources differ on the structural count. Holst’s release lists 1,200 glulam beams and columns combined, plus nearly 300 CLT panels. The release gives the timber count as 1,200 glulam beams and columns combined, plus nearly 300 CLT panels. Both sources agree on the overall scale of the timber system.
Inside, glulam beams and CLT panels form the main structural system. Double-height entrances and a central living room open larger clearings within the column grid. Holst paired overhead beams with recessed lines in the timber to give the ceiling depth and rhythm.
A curved staircase in the central space is wrapped in closely spaced wood slats. Viewed from above, it circles a planted area and curved seating. The stair gives visitors a visible link between the floors.
Wood does not carry the whole load. Concrete shear walls brace the auditorium and the building’s eastern side. Concrete also surrounds rooms where sound needs control. The material choices follow what each space demands, rather than assuming exposed wood fits every condition.
Heavy timber used as a visible structural system is rare in public buildings, and it shows up in other recent projects too. Timber pavilion and modular architecture showcased at BuildFest 2026 offers a useful comparison for how wood can shape a space.
Holst used split-laminated beams and tucked pipes and lighting into the gap between the two halves.
Layout and programs at the east county library gresham
Holst organizes the plan of the east county library gresham from west to east. The western side holds the busiest uses: the entrances, a makerspace, a 200-seat auditorium, children’s play areas, and a teen space. The center holds the book collections and specialized rooms. The east side offers window-lined seating for reading and work.
The Creative Learning Room is a large-scale makerspace. An audiovisual studio supports recording of music, podcasts, and video. Community organizations can reserve the auditorium free of charge.
Two sensory rooms, one for children and one for adults, offer adjustable lighting and ways to engage or withdraw. Holst’s release also describes indoor and enclosed outdoor children’s spaces, and a rooftop terrace. Architectural Record notes that the sensory rooms help neurodivergent users calm down.
Community input and sustainability
Four community organizations served as paid Library Champions. Holst took part in more than 50 events, and the team logged more than 10,000 individual connections. Forty librarians also joined weekly Zoom meetings. Holst’s project page names El Programa Hispano Católico, Black Economic Collective, and the Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest as Library Champions.
Residents asked for specific things. Parents wanted large children’s areas with indoor and outdoor play. Teens wanted a space that balances technology with access to nature. One community quote reads: “Places I can sit with my friends and talk and read.” Community members emphasized quiet reading areas, flexible gathering spaces, and sensory rooms.
The design process for the east county library gresham prioritized listening to community members. He set a goal of a “100-year building.” Ductwork runs in the space between the first-floor ceiling and the second-floor floor.
The project targets LEED Gold certification, according to Holst’s project page. It has not yet been certified. The design includes radiant floor heating and cooling, a rooftop solar array, north-facing skylights, and bird-safe glazing. Holst’s page also says the team consulted Native-led organizations and acknowledged the Cascades Watlala and Clackamas peoples, whose lands include Gresham.
The building has already drawn recognition. Holst’s release describes the library as a community-focused destination for learning, play, and connection. Awards show how a design performs in review. The daily use will show whether the layout works for East County residents.
Source: yankodesign.com
Frequently asked questions
When did the East County Library in Gresham open?
The East County Library in Gresham opened on May 16, 2026. The building occupies about 95,000 square feet and serves eastern Multnomah County.
How much did the East County Library in Gresham cost?
Holst’s project release puts the cost at $163 million. The project was funded by the Multnomah County Library’s $387 million bond, which voters approved in November 2020.
What building material forms the structure of the East County Library?
The library’s structure is primarily heavy timber, including glulam beams and cross-laminated timber panels. Concrete shear walls also brace the auditorium and the building’s eastern side.
What site did the East County Library in Gresham replace?
The library replaced a former park-and-ride at NW Division Street and NW Eastman Parkway. The site sits between a busy parkway, a major rail station, and a high-speed bus stop.
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