Northgate Branch History
The Library joined forces with Seattle Parks and Recreation, which was looking for a site in Northgate for a community center and park. The departments bought property along Fifth Avenue Northeast, just north of Northeast 105th Street across from the Northgate Mall.
In 2003, the Library opened the Northgate Temporary Service Site on the property to help provide service while other branches in North Seattle were closed for construction.
Northgate Branch 2006 Construction
Seattle Parks and Recreation has a community center and park on the same site as the branch.
The new branch has:
- collection capacity of 40,200 books and materials
- a meeting room
- modern technology services and equipment
- reading and homework areas for children and teens
- computers
- instruction areas
Quick Facts
- Project type: New branch library
- Completion date: 2006
- Budget for capital costs: $6.2 million (library only)
- Total library program area: 10,000 square feet
- Computers: 25
- Artist: Dana Lynn Louis
- Art budget: $45,235
- Library Board steward: Greg Maffei
- Architect: The Miller|Hull Partnership
- Site planning: ARC Architects
- Contractor: Absher Construction Co.
Milestones
- July 2006: The new Northgate Branch of The Seattle Public Library and the adjacent community center and park opened at noon Saturday, July 15.
- March 2005: Construction began on the facilities and park on March 21. Residents attended a groundbreaking ceremony on March 19. Earlier in the month, the construction contract was awarded to Absher Construction Co.
- January 2005: The Seattle Public Library and Seattle Parks and Recreation began advertising for general contractor bids.
- November 2004: The City Council approved Mayor Greg Nickels' proposal to add $1 million to the Northgate project.
- September 2004: Mayor Greg Nickels proposed adding $1 million to the Northgate project.
- July 2004: Construction bids came in higher than expected. The Library and Parks plan to rebid the project in early 2005.
- June 2004: The Northgate Temporary Service Site closed June 25. The temporary site provided library service during construction closures at branches in North Seattle.
- February 2004: Residents attended a meeting to see images of the new branch, community center and park. The Seattle Design Commission reviewed design development plans.
- November 2003: The Seattle Design Commission reviewed the schematic design. Residents attended a meeting to see the first images of the project.
- July 2003: The Seattle Design Commission reviewed early design concepts.
- June 2003: The Library Board selected Dana Lynn Louis, an artist from Portland, Ore., to develop artwork for the new branch. An advisory panel interviewed three artists and recommended Louis for the job.
- May 2003: Residents attended a meeting to kick off the design process. They described their vision for the design, and discussed preferences in services, equipment, programs, library collections, and artwork.
- April 2003: The Northgate Temporary Service Site opened on April 28.
- March 2003: The Library Board and Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent Ken Bounds selected The Miller|Hull Partnership to design the project.
- February 2003: Residents attended a meeting to view and comment on the site plans for the project.
- October 2002: The Library Board and Parks Superintendent Ken Bounds selected ARC Architects to provide site planning services. Earlier in the month, residents met consultant finalists at a public reception.
- June 2002: The Library Board voted to build the new branch on the former Bon Tire Center site at Fifth Avenue Northeast and Northeast 105th Street and the commercial site a block north.
- January 2002: The Library Board narrowed to two the potential sites for the new branch.
- May 2001: The Library and other agencies launched a series of monthly open houses to keep the public involved and continue the momentum toward planning and development in Northgate.
- December 2000: The Library joined community members and representatives from local agencies in refining development alternatives in Northgate in the second set of a two-workshop series sponsored by the city of Seattle, King County and Sound Transit.
- October 2000: The Library took part in the first workshop on developing public projects in Northgate.
- May 2000: Residents attended a joint meeting of the Library and Parks to discuss co-location of the Northgate branch and community center. The Library also took part in a Northgate Urban Center design workshop sponsored by the Seattle Planning Commission.
- March 2000: The Library Board narrowed to six the number of sites being considered for the new branch. Earlier in the month, residents discussed 12 potential sites at a second community meeting.
- January 2000: Residents discussed six sites at the first community meeting to talk about where to build the new branch. The Library added to the list six more sites that residents proposed.