Community-Driven Design at East County Library

When we began designing East County Library, we knew that true success would come not only from architectural innovation but from deep community engagement.

Through over 5,160 community interactions and 10,000 feedback comments, local voices shaped every aspect of the library’s design, transforming it into a dynamic community hub where all generations can come to learn, gather, and grow together.

Collaborative Leadership

The engagement process was one of the most extensive we’ve undertaken for any project, reaching over 3,000 people through multiple channels intentionally designed to collect diverse perspectives.

Multnomah County Library (MCL) approached this project with the belief that libraries must serve everyone, which meant meeting people where they were to ensure diverse voices were heard.

Their team helped us identify events across East County that would allow us to engage diverse cross-sections of the community, including Juneteenth celebrations, the Autism Walk, and gatherings hosted by the City of Gresham.

Together, we meticulously tracked events, turnout, and feedback using shared spreadsheets and forms. MCL’s Black Cultural Library Advocates, Youth Librarians, Indigenous Outreach Specialists, and other staff members were instrumental in building bridges between community members and the library project.

A Process of Listening

We began our community outreach with four major public surveys to reach the broadest cross-section of demographics.

The overall design and program survey received 1,970 responses, while focused surveys asked about art integration (310 participants), accessibility needs (350 participants) and teen space design preferences (560 votes), allowing us to make informed decisions reflective of community priorities.

We complemented these surveys in coordination with 21 strategic tabling events, where we connected face-to-face with over 1,500 community members. At each event, we arrived with carefully crafted questions developed in partnership with MCL staff. This ensured the use of accessible language and a focus on design elements the community could influence.

Community Engagement Across Multnomah County

The team hosted community engagement events across East County. The star on the map below shows the site of East County Library, while the circles indicate the locations of community engagement events. The larger the circle, the more events were held at that location.

Increasing Project Awareness

As the project progressed, there was growing awareness and excitement about the library. In July 2023, an open house at the existing Gresham Library was well attended, with our Library Champions speaking with the community about the new library and its design. Many residents have been actively tracking the project’s progress and have engaged in increasingly specific conversations about architectural features.

Focusing on the Details

For deeper exploration of specific design topics, we conducted 14 focus groups, keeping most under 10 participants to ensure meaningful contribution during the 60-90 minute sessions.

Following each focus group, we shared our notes with participants, inviting clarifications to confirm we had accurately captured their input. These intimate settings created space for in-depth conversations that yielded some valuable insights.

Our public meetings and open houses reached roughly 230 people. At most engagement events, we maintained a hands-on approach with building renderings and maps available for discussion. At specialized events, such as the Autism Walk, we also brought material samples and image cards for participants to express their sensory room preferences.

Holst team members led focus groups where community members weighed in on everything from library programming to paint colors.

Community-Centered Approach

Integral to our community-centered approach were our Library Champions—a small group of paid community advocates representing local organizations who became trusted partners from the project’s earliest phases.

These dedicated individuals met with us monthly during active design phases, with quarterly check-ins during construction. They provided invaluable guidance throughout the process and helped coordinate multiple focus groups within their communities, significantly enhancing our outreach capacity and ensuring authentic representation.

Spaces Shaped by Community Voices

The result of all this community outreach is that each space within the library truly tells a story of community input. Over 550 teens voted on their room’s color scheme: blue ultimately won over purple and green. Teens specifically requested a space that would balance technology with views of nature. Parents advocated for both indoor and outdoor children’s play areas, while others, specifically elders in the community, emphasized the need for dedicated quiet reading rooms separate from more active zones.

Creating Inclusive Spaces

Creating accessible and inclusive spaces was fundamental to our design approach, representing a true integration of professional best practices and community-driven priorities. While our design team brought expertise in universal design principles, community feedback substantially shaped and enhanced our accessibility solutions.

We developed a rigorous system for tracking and implementing recommendations from our engagement efforts, cataloging over 10,000 comments from surveys and engagement events in a comprehensive database tagged by topic and spatial zone.

As design development progressed, we analyzed these inputs for patterns in community preferences, with special attention given to accessibility and comfort concerns. These comments were flagged through a secondary tracking system that matched specific accessibility barriers with appropriate design strategies.

While we couldn’t incorporate every suggestion (including, regrettably, a playful request for a slide connecting the second and first floors), our team reviewed all feedback collectively and prioritized accessibility and comfort recommendations throughout the design process. The resulting spaces reflect this integrated approach.

Broad Inclusivity

This attention to inclusivity extends to cultural considerations. Working with the Regional Arts and Culture Council, we integrated art throughout the building that reflects and celebrates the community’s identity.

Indigenous design elements appear in the architecture, while nature-themed installations and murals ensures a dynamic space that is representative of many voices.

A Model for Future Libraries

East County Library demonstrates how community engagement can transform a civic building into something truly special. By balancing architectural innovation with user-driven spaces, we’ve created a library as both a practical resource and a beloved gathering place.