Portland’s Central Library will reopen to the public on Nov. 1 after undergoing upgrades to make a better building for patrons and readying for future projects. Holgate and Midland libraries are also preparing for rebuilding and expansion.

Since July, Central Library construction crews have been hard at work to begin construction on two new outdoor public terraces to provide outdoor gathering and program space (the south terrace is now complete; north terrace construction will occur in the next project phase), improve Americans with Disabilities Act required access to the building and alter landscaping, begin the expansion and remodeling of the primary first floor restrooms, prepare space for future automation to expedite holds and returns, upgrade electrical components in movable shelving (storage), and stage equipment and materials for Central library building projects.

This work is funded by library building bond funds, Prosper Portland-issued grant funds, Library Capital Improvement Plan funds and Library District Capital Reserve funds.

More improvements coming in 2023

After this project phase, Central Library will prepare for a series of bond-funded projects next year that will result in greatly expanded space for people, including new restrooms, a teen space, upgrades to meeting rooms of various sizes, more community space, automations for faster holds and returns, and adding more flexible seating and additional power outlets along with new paint, carpet and furniture. Crews will also finish outdoor terraces and improve emergency egress. To complete that work, Central Library will close again for a sustained period in 2023, of six months or more. Project planners are still finalizing the details and dates for those improvements.

A brand new Holgate Library

Holgate Library is being rebuilt as a new, larger library on the same site it occupies now. To start on this work, Holgate will be closed temporarily for construction beginning Dec. 5. It will reopen in 2024. The building will be deconstructed and the new library will be triple the size of the current space for a total of 21,000 square feet — making it one of the largest libraries in Multnomah County.

Features for patrons will include a dedicated teen space with furniture and state-of-the-art technology, large early learning and play space for families, multiple flexible programming spaces, meeting rooms for community gatherings and individual use, updated technology and gigabit speed fiber optic internet, an outdoor plaza for community members, art created with community input and engagement, and solar panels to offset almost half of the library’s energy use.

Renovating and expanding Midland Library

Midland Library will undergo renovations and an expansion to add 6,000 square feet of space, or an increase of about 25 percent. To complete upgrades, Midland will close temporarily for construction on Dec. 23 and will reopen in 2024.

Additions to the library will include an outdoor interactive children’s play area, large early learning and play space for families, outdoor seating and reading area, public art created with community input and engagement, multiple flexible programming spaces, a dedicated teen space with furniture and state-of-the-art technology, and a Gathering Circle for community conversation and connection.

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The new Multnomah County Courthouse project is steadily climbing, floor by floor, as general contractor Hoffman Construction works on the planned $315 million, 17-story replacement for the existing courthouse on Southwest Fourth Avenue.

Hoffman recently hosted a tour of the construction site as part of the workforce development event Industry for a Day, which has been held the past three years by nonprofit group All Hands Raised. Below, a short video will give you a quick look inside the project.

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In this short video Gresham Redevelopment Commission Executive Director Josh Fuhrer gives a brief overview of Rockwood Rising, a long-awaited plan to redevelop a key property in the impoverished Gresham neighborhood of Rockwood. Once an unincorporated area of the county between Portland and Gresham, Rockwood has remained behind the development curve in spite of the region’s red-hot housing market. This has left plenty of room for enterprising developers to seek out public-private partnerships like Rockwood Rising, which has seen RKM Development team with the city of Gresham to make the project work. Check it out here:

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