Capitol Hill Branch Library

The Capitol Hill Branch is a branch of the Seattle Public Library in the Capitol Hill, Seattle neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, US. The original library, located at Harvard Avenue and Republican Street, opened in 1954 and was named the Susan J. Henry Branch at the request of its benefactor. The Henry Branch was demolished in 2001 and the modern Capitol Hill Branch was opened at the same location in 2003.

Not to be confused with the Capitol Hill Library in Portland, Oregon.
Capitol Hill Branch Library
Capitol Hill Branch exterior and entrance
General information
TypeLibrary
LocationCapitol Hill, Seattle, Washington, US
Address425 Harvard Avenue E.
Coordinates47.6230°N 122.3225°W / 47.6230; -122.3225
Construction startedNovember 2001
OpenedMay 31, 2003 (2003-05-31)
Cost$5.7 million[1]
OwnerSeattle Public Library
Technical details
Size40,000 books[1]
Floor area11,615 square feet (1,079.1 m2)[1]
Design and construction
ArchitectJohnston Architects and Cutler Architects[1]
Website
Seattle Public Library

History

The original site of the library was formerly Emma Baillargeon Stimson's large home, whose purchase was partly funded by the sale of another Capitol Hill property donated in 1934 to the city by two sons of Horace Chapin Henry and Susan J. Henry. Both Henry and Stimson families were early Seattle businesspeople and philanthropists, and Emma Stimson was granddaughter of John Collins, another wealthy businessperson and one of the first mayors of Seattle.[2] A new building designed by NBBJ opened as the Susan J. Henry Branch on August 26, 1954.[3][4][5] The Washington Talking Book & Braille Library (then the Library for the Blind and serving Washington, Montana and Alaska) was housed in the building's basement until 1973.[6][7]

The citywide "Libraries for All" initiative was approved by voters in 1998, funding the replacement of older and smaller libraries, including the Henry Branch.[8] In October 1999, after two public meetings, the Seattle Library Board voted to build a new branch on the current site of the Henry Branch.[1] The Library Board rejected an offer from a private developer that sought to put the new library branch in a mixed-use development at Broadway and 10th Avenue East, after public opposition to the 65-foot (20 m) height of the building.[9] The Henry Branch closed on November 3, 2001, and was demolished.[1] A new $5 million building designed by Cutler Anderson Architects opened on the same site on May 31, 2003.[10] Under city regulations, new libraries could not be named for individuals so it was named Capitol Hill Branch.[11] In its first year, the new library handled 58 percent more patrons compared to the old branch.[12]

Architecture and construction
Unobstructed reading room and mezzanine, featuring two story south-facing glass wall

The 21st century building incorporates a green wall on a steel mesh trellis and other calming features visible from the unobstructed interior with large glass expanses and south light.[10] The exterior mortar joints are trowel struck to give the exterior a monolithic appearance.[10] The basement has an 18-stall parking garage.[10]

The design team, led by Ray Johnston and James Cutler,[13] described the building as a reflection of the urban corridor of Broadway as well as the wooded residential areas of the neighborhood.[14]

References
  1. "Building Facts: Capitol Hill Branch". Seattle Public Library.
  2. "Emma B. Stimson papers, 1888-1964", Orbis West, Orbis Cascade Alliance, retrieved 2017-12-24
  3. "Library Branch for Blind to Open". The Seattle Times. August 24, 1954. p. 16.
  4. Paula Becker, Capitol Hill Branch, The Seattle Public Library, HistoryLink
  5. "Firm record for Naramore, Bain, Brady, and Johanson (NBBJ)", Pacific Coast Architecture Database (PCAD), University of Washington, Firm 1057, retrieved December 24, 2017
  6. David Wilma (June 10, 2003), Capitol Hill Branch, The Seattle Public Library, opens on May 31, 2003, HistoryLink
  7. "History of the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library", Official website, Washington Talking Book & Braille Library, archived from the original on November 27, 2017, retrieved December 24, 2017
  8. Byrnes, Susan (October 14, 1998). "Turning a page: Seattle Proposition 1, a $196.4 million facelift, would expand and renovate the public library system". The Seattle Times. p. A1.
  9. Snel, Alan (August 25, 1999). "Keystone site rejected for Capitol Hill library". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Archived from the original on March 2, 2002.
  10. Sheri Olson (June 8, 2003), "On Architecture: Capitol Hill Library is firmly planted as an urban refuge", Seattle Post-Intelligencer
  11. From informative display inside Capitol Hill Branch
  12. Solomon, Cara (August 23, 2004). "Warm hello for a 'new' neighbor: Columbia City library reopens". The Seattle Times. p. B1.
  13. Carlton Harrell, Debera (May 30, 2003). "Capitol Hill branch library turns a new page". Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
  14. Kramer, Ari (June 7, 2002). "New libraries offer an experience, not just books". Puget Sound Business Journal. p. A7.

Further reading
  • Landmark Nomination of the Susan J. Henry Branch Library for the Seattle Public Library, Seattle, Washington, Seattle: BOLA Architecture + Planning, 2000, item 2028606030, call number 363.69097 B637Lh Seattle Public Library main branch in-library viewing only
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