In Portland, Ore., described as the “beating heart” of the Multnomah County Library system, the new Operations Center keeps more than 500,000 catalogue items in motion while powering outreach services that connect the library to its community.

Designed by Hennebery Eddy Architects, this adaptive reuse project transformed a vacant 1995 grocery store into a bustling 6,782-m² (73,000-sf) workplace.

Interior spaces prioritize the well-being, health, and safety of the 130 employees through daylighting, the use of natural materials, a second-floor terrace, and common spaces energized by large-scale biophilic murals.

Finish materials feature wood wall panels and screens that provide warmth and texture. Enhanced air filtration mitigates pollutants and seasonal wildfire smoke, and structural systems are designed for increased seismic resilience.

Adaptive reuse of the 4,831-m² (52,000-sf) grocery store reduced calculated embodied carbon by 66 percent compared to baseline/new construction.

The design prominently features more than 600 solar panels that will fully offset the building’s energy use.

The operations center is the first project to meet Multnomah County’s ambitious resolution to achieve fossil-fuel-free buildings, and it anticipates LEED Gold certification and Living Future Net-Zero Energy certification.