Not only did I enjoy seeing, experiencing and learning about Koolhaas’s Main Library, but I also found a beautiful gem of a library and neighborhood center when I went to visit my friends in Ballard. Ballard is known among my friends to be the place where you can buy fun stuff (Archie McPhee’s) and get a great cupcake (Cupcake Royale) BUT it also home to one of the TOP TEN GREEN buildings of 2006, the Ballard Library and Neighborhood Center. My friend and I were randomly wondering about Ballard waiting for my other friend to get home from her work at SAM (More about the opening of the new SAM sculpture garden in part three.) when we came upon a beautiful and strange building. The first thing that caught my eye was that this building had a green roof (an component of sustainable architecture that I have great interest in) and that it was very shiny. When we got closer we realized it was the Ballard Library and Neighborhood Center.

Not only was it a mixed use facility, a gorgeous example of a green building produced with a limited budget it was packed with people of diverse ages and background. It warmed my little librarian heart to see a print reference section that was centrally located. It was a great example of how stylish and inviting a library and a green building can be… I could go on and on about the native plants on the roof and the designers behind the plan but instead I will let the library and the architect, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, tell you themselves. To read and see more pictures and drawings of the building, please see: http://www.bcj.com/ (look under projects>cultural>Ballard Library and Neighborhood Center) To read more about the branch please see: http://www.spl.org/default.asp?pageID=branch_open_about&branchID=3 In other words the Koolhaas building is fantastic but it not the only amazing new library building in Seattle.