Stevens Ranch Library, Oregon, United States

By Syedali Mallikar

Published On: October 1, 2026

Stevens Ranch Library Oregon United States

Stevens Ranch Library in Oregon, United States

October 1, 2026

Architects: Miller Hull and STEELE Associates

Location: Oregon, USA

Images by Kevin Scott

Deschutes County’s New Central Library Reimagines What a Library Can Be

Designed by Miller Hull and STEELE Associates, the 100,000-square-foot Stevens Ranch Library brings collectively studying, creativity, coworking, and neighborhood via a mass-timber design.

A library means one thing totally different to everybody. For some, it’s a spot to do analysis. Others come to learn in peace—to put in writing, to code, to collaborate. The brand new Central Library at Stevens Ranch in Deschutes County, OR, designed by The Miller Hull Partnership and native architects STEELE Associates, acknowledges these totally different person teams and welcomes all of them. At over 100,000 sq. toes, the three-story library accommodates the varied experiences of recent life and studying.

Connecting Communities
As a part of a system-wide emphasis on customer expertise, the Deschutes County library system is reorganizing its assortment, disposing of conventional Dewey classifications in favor of extra accessible style groupings that encourage searching and exploration.

Central additionally expands the library’s “Library of Issues” assortment, enabling guests to borrow instruments and objects starting from an air fryer to a stitching machine to a fly-fishing package. By encouraging borrowing reasonably than shopping for, the system offers individuals the chance to experiment with hobbies and proceed a lifelong journey of curiosity.

Creating and experimenting are prioritized all through the library, with versatile areas supporting actions for all ages, from crafts and quilting to rising expertise. The library additionally supplies coworking areas for distant employees, college students, and entrepreneurs, and leases house to a neighborhood espresso firm.

Early Studying
The youngsters’s space is crammed with interactive parts that stimulate curiosity, encourage exploration, and supply hands-on interplay for youngsters and caregivers. “Trailheads” inserted into the gathering immediate younger readers to have interaction with books and share their discoveries. Cellular Carts assist actions all through the library and may journey to different branches, whereas bodily landforms encourage discovery of house, coloration, and sound.

Exterior Design
As a high-desert space, Central Oregon’s arid panorama is characterised by intense solar publicity. A shingled facade controls daylight and protects the inside from undesirable photo voltaic warmth acquire whereas sustaining views west towards the mountains.

The library’s base is manufactured from regional stone and dry-toned metallic, whereas its staggered roofline mimics the mountains within the distance. The sloped roof additionally breaks down the multi-story house, creating areas outlined by ceiling peak. On the entrance, a hovering atrium creates a grand sense of arrival and helps orient guests throughout the constructing.

Sustainability
A holistic framework of sustainability objectives and efficiency options designed to attain LEED Gold creates a library that could be a neighborhood asset for years to come back.

A greater-than-code constructing envelope reduces vitality demand and helps occupant consolation. All-electric and environment friendly gear reduces operational vitality use, whereas a big photovoltaic array supplies all renewable vitality for the library, and a small battery backup system supplies some resilience functionality.

Efforts to cut back embodied carbon included setting world warming potential targets, utilizing concrete effectively, and making significant selections for exterior cladding and inside supplies. Daylit areas, pure air flow, enhanced mechanical filtration, and diminished chemical compounds of concern assist occupant well being and indoor air high quality.

Structural Design in Mass Timber
The design staff aspired to maximise using mass timber within the 100,000-square-foot constructing, which has a 50% decrease carbon footprint than concrete or metal. The mission makes use of Sort III-A development, which allows constructing with wooden that’s one-hour fire-protected.

Acoustic dowel-laminated timber (ADLT) is used for the ground deck system, permitting it to carry out structurally as flooring, architecturally as a end materials, and acoustically as a sound-absorbing function. The structural structure creates lengthy spans for open, column-free, and versatile library areas. A raised entry ground system coordinates mechanical programs, electrical conduit, and hearth sprinklers beneath the ground, leaving the ceiling, columns, and beams as the first expression of the constructing. Strategic use of concrete core partitions eliminates the necessity for metal diagonal braced frames, leading to a constant expression of the wooden columns and beams.

Stevens Ranch Library in Oregon, United States – Constructing Info

Design Architect: The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP – https://millerhull.com/

Native Architect: Steele Associates Architects
Contractor: Kirby Nagelhout Development Firm
Civil Engineer: HWA, Inc.
Structural Engineer: KPFF Consulting Engineers
Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing Engineer: Interface Engineering
Panorama Architect: Walker Macy, LLC
Lighting: Blanca Lighting Design
Signage: Mayer Reed, Inc.
Early Studying Environments: Plus and Larger Than
Acoustic Engineering: Tenor Engineering Group
Envelope: Morrison Hershfield
ADA: Studio Pacifica
Artwork: John Grade

About The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP
The Miller Hull Partnership, LLP is an internationally acknowledged structure, planning, city, and inside design agency that works to create a regenerative and inclusive future via the constructed surroundings. Since its founding in 1977, Miller Hull has been designing dynamic and environmentally accountable buildings that present enduring worth for his or her communities. The agency has a studio in Seattle and San Diego with work extending throughout a number of typologies for a spread of private and non-private purchasers the place individuals Dwell,
Work, Study, Collect and Serve. Well known for modern, timeless designs and a partnership-driven observe, Miller Hull has obtained over 350 native, regional, nationwide, and worldwide awards for design excellence, together with the American Institute of Architects Agency Award and Architect 50’s

Images: Kevin Scott

Stevens Ranch Library, Oregon, USA info / pictures obtained 011026

Location: Oregon, United States of America.