East County Library, a mass-timber public library in Gresham, Oregon

The East County Library in Gresham, Oregon, began as an Adjaye Associates design, with US studio Holst as architect of record. After misconduct allegations against David Adjaye were made public (he denies them), the county released his studio and asked Holst to carry on without a full redesign. The finished building stays close to the original. The main losses are the screens planned for the entrances and a tower that would have risen above the roof.

Holst principal Brittany Shreiner describes the aim as "awe and accessibility", with the awe meant to feel more like a forest than a monument. Tall glulam columns line covered entrances on two sides, one opening onto a plaza made from a converted street and the other reached by ramps, with rail and bus lines close by. Notches cut into the timber give it a cabin-like feel and hide the lighting and services.

Inside, the entrances lead to a double-height atrium with a wood-slatted spiral staircase, which Shreiner calls a "clearing". Book stacks surround it, green carpets continue the forest idea, and sawtooth rooflights bring in soft light. There is also an amphitheatre and a rooftop patio looking out to the mountains.

Worth a look for anyone curious about mass timber used at civic scale, or simply in need of a good library near Portland.

Our summary of a story from Dezeen, published 3 November 2026. Read the original