Astoria Public Library Renovation

Renovation of the Astoria Public Library in Oregon’s northwest coastal city modernized the building to meet 21st-century library requirements, including additional meeting spaces, a media room, expanded programming spaces, a larger children’s area, and improved accessibility. The $10.7M project was supported by an $8M bond measure passed with overwhelming voter support in November 2022.

Built in 1967, the library was designed by Ebba Wicks Brown, the second licensed female architect in Oregon. The renovation retains the building’s refined midcentury Brutalist/International style while introducing daylight and opening the library to the streetscape. By expanding into the basement, which is visually connected to the main level by an open staircase, the project doubles the usable space in the building to 18,000 square feet and creates new social spaces, a gallery, and areas for kids and teenagers. There is also space for archives, storage, and the Astoriana Room for historical and retrospective collections.

The renovation design reflects the input of the Astoria community provided through focus groups with teens, seniors, young families, advocates for houseless individuals, and local Native community members. Today, the library is as a vibrant gathering place for Astoria’s diverse community.