en.Wedoany.com Reported - Multnomah County, Oregon, recently opened the new East County Library. The building is a two-story mass timber structure with a total area of approximately 95,000 square feet, housing a collection of over 200,000 books, a 200-seat auditorium, a creative learning lab equipped with multiple 3D printers, and a rooftop terrace overlooking Mount Hood. A 187.62 kW solar system is installed on the building's roof, consisting of 318 Qcells photovoltaic modules, CPS inverters, and Sunmodo racking. Local contractor RJ Ramos completed the installation, with Mill Plain Electric and Advanced Energy Systems responsible for the electrical engineering.

The solar installation and mass timber structure are key sustainable features in the library's pursuit of LEED Gold certification. Other environmentally friendly designs include radiant floor heating, air-source heat pumps, and a passive solar strategy that introduces natural light through clerestory windows and north-facing skylights. This project is part of a series of new and renovated libraries in the Portland metropolitan area, stemming from a $387 million bond measure approved by voters in November 2020, aimed at building and renovating library facilities across the county.

The architectural design and engineering for the East County Library were completed by Holst Architecture in collaboration with Adjaye Associates and PAE Engineers. Energy efficiency design was assisted by the Energy Trust of Oregon, a nonprofit organization funded by regional utilities. Fortis Construction served as the general contractor. The site was purchased in 2023, with site preparation beginning the same year. Construction continued through late winter 2026, and the library officially opened on May 16, 2026. The original site was a park-and-ride lot, adjacent to Gresham City Hall and the Gresham Station Shopping Center, near a MAX Light Rail Blue Line station, a line that runs 33 miles east-west through downtown Portland.

Funds from the 2020 bond measure are also being used to renovate and rebuild other libraries in the county, with most projects incorporating solar installations. According to a library spokesperson, a solar system composed of 600 modules was installed on the 73,000-square-foot roof of the Operations Center. Additionally, large solar arrays have been installed at the newly built Holgate Library and the expanded Albina Library.

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