Tour & Happy Hour

Tuesday, March 31, 2026
4:30 – 5:30 PM Pacific Standard Time
Happy Hour to follow tour

Earn 1 LU/HSW CEU

Holgate Library

Multnomah County’s Holgate Library has recently been completed as part of the bond-funded program. Each library focused on community engagement and a design justice approach.

The newly opened Holgate Library for Multnomah County Library in Southeast Portland is one of the largest and most energy-efficient libraries in the county, tripling the size of the original 1971 building to accommodate one of the city’s most diverse communities. Boasting a mass timber structure, the library is designed to foster a culture of civic pride, offering healthy and inspiring spaces with ample connections to nature to provide patrons of all ages and backgrounds with an uplifting and welcoming library experience.

Learning Objectives:

• Approach to utilizing a Design Justice lens in design. We held extensive community engagement sessions to ensure the building would authentically represent its patrons. This resulted in flexible programming and spaces including a large play and learning area for families, a dedicated teen room, and an outdoor plaza for gathering. Holgate Library’s interior design, exterior color and patterns were publicly voted on by the community. The designs of local artists enlivening the lobby and exterior were also guided by extensive community input. At every turn, the design reflects its patrons’ aspirations to make the new library an inclusive celebration of people and place.
• Learn strategies for implementing BIPOC artists in Public Architecture Projects.
• Learn process for incorporating community input into program and physical space of a public project. The tour will touch on the community engagement process and how it was incorporated into the program and design.
• Learn strategies for achieving a high-performance building with a Mass Timber Structure. The newly opened Holgate Library for Multnomah County Library in Southeast Portland is one of the largest and most energy-efficient libraries in the county and boasts a mass timber structure.

Project Team:
Architect of Record: Bora Architecture and Interiors
Landscape Architect: PLACE
Mechanical Engineer: Arris Consulting
Structural Engineer: Equilibrium Engineers, LLC
Electrical Engineer: Samata
Civil Engineer: Vega
Contractor: Swinterton
Specialized Consultants: Colloqate Design
Owner: Multnomah County

Sponsorship Opportunities Available:

Bar Sponsor – $250 | 2 Available

• One (1) complimentary registration for sponsored event
• Logo at bar for sponsored event
• Logo and link to website on chapter event announcement for the sponsored event
• Logo and link to website on chapter e-mail marketing for event

Event Sponsor – $250 | 1 Available

• Two (2) complimentary registrations for sponsored event
• Approved company literature at sponsored event, if provided
• Logo and link to website on chapter event announcement for the sponsored event
• Logo and link to website on chapter e-mail marketing for event
• If event sponsor is directly affiliated with the event, additional complimentary registrations may be considered to help facilitate the event

4:30 – 5:30 PM	Tour Multnomah County Library – Holgate Branch 7905 SE Holgate Blvd Portland, OR 97206 Attendees may need to be mindful of Library patrons in the space depending on tour timing.
5:30 – 8:00 PM	Happy Hour TBD

Members: Free | Non-Members: $30

Registration closes on March 30, 2026.