Design Institute Spokane

Whether you're in the dreaming and planning stages or further along the design road, you'll find ideas, information, and inspiration, no matter what your budget allows!

Library Journal is thrilled to once again be hosting our long-running library building and design event in person! And we’re especially excited to be hosting it in partnership with Spokane Public Library. This full-day think tank provides expert panel discussions with architects and librarians, as well as hands-on, architect-led breakout sessions tackling real-life design challenges submitted in advance by attendees. Dig deep with architects, librarians, and vendors to explore building/renovating/ retrofitting spaces both large and small that will redefine the relationship with your users and engage your community. There will be plenty of facetime and networking opportunities throughout the day with colleagues.

Come in early for tours of beautiful local libraries on May 8th. Registration for the tours will be available soon.

This event is open to librarians, library board or foundation members, and the library’s city planners/officials. If you are an architect or vendor and would like to sponsor one of our 2023 Design Institute events, please contact Advertising Director Roy Futterman: rfutterman@mediasourceinc.com

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By registering for this event, you are agreeing to abide by the guidelines set in the Health & Safety Policy for in-person events.

Program

9:00-9:45 AM

REGISTRATION AND CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

9:45-9:55 AM

WELCOME REMARKS

Rebecca Miller, Publisher, Library Journal

Andrew Chanse | Director, Spokane Public Library

Location:  Nxʷyxʷyetkʷ Hall (3rd Floor)

10:00 - 10:50 AM

FLEXIBLE SPACES AND CONTEMPORARY MATERIALS

Discover how innovative materials are revolutionizing library projects nationwide and gain insights into creating flexible spaces tailored for libraries of all sizes. Our panelists will share their insights from diverse projects and highlight successes, challenges, and lessons learned. Topics will include flexible design evolution, sustainable material strategies, community inclusivity, and the power of partnerships in fostering vibrant library ecosystems. This panel promises inspiration and valuable insights into shaping resilient, community-centric spaces.

Panelists:

David Schnee | Principal Architect, Group 4 Architecture

Mona Johnston Zellers | Partner, Johnston Architects

Pauline Souza | Partner, Director of Sustainability, WRNS Design

Moderator: Alina Murcar | Marketing and Communications Manager, Spokane Public Library

10:50 – 11:00 AM

INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT: Envisionware

Peton Nielsen | Regional Sales Manager, Envisionware

11:00 - 11:20 AM

BREAK/VISIT SPONSORS

11:20 - 12:10 AM

MODERNIZING THE LIBRARY

For budgets big and small, the panel will explore strategies and tools for modernizing your library. Which trends are hot, and which are fading? What’s the role of furniture, technology, and community input in modernization? How do you take climate impact into consideration and design for future evolution? All this and more will be discussed.

Panelists:

Amy Crawford | Interior Designer, Anderson Brulé Architects

Trina Goodwin | Architect, Associate Principal, Noll & Tam Architects

Adam Woltag | Partner, Design Partner, WRNS Studio

Moderator: Amanda Donovan | Director of Marketing and Communications, Spokane Public Library 

12:10 – 1:10 PM

LUNCH\Visit Sponsors  

1:10 – 2:00 PM

SCOPE OF PROJECTS   

This discussion will address the different elements of scoping a design project, including understanding the project budget, staying on track with the timeline, the use of rendering technology, using flexibility as a tool, balancing decision-making, the aesthetic vs. functional, and making hard choices.

Panelists:

Katherine Rivard | Associate Principal, Anderson Brulé Architects

Ray Johnston | Founding Partner, Johnston Architects

Moderator: Andrew Chanse | Director, Spokane Public Library

2:10 - 3:40 PM

ARCHITECT-LED BREAKOUT SESSIONS  

FEATURING REAL-LIFE DESIGN CHALLENGES

BREAKOUT 1: BERWYN PUBLIC LIBRARY (Berwyn, IL) LED BY: Anderson Brulé Architects

Location: Conference Room B (3rd Floor)

BREAKOUT 2: PORT MOODY PUBLIC LIBRARY (British Columbia, Canada) LED BY: Johnston Architects     

Location: Events A (First Floor)

BREAKOUT 3: ADA COMMUNITY LIBRARY-STAR BRANCH (Star, ID) LED BY: Noll & Tam Architects

Location: Conference Room A (First Floor)

BREAKOUT 4: EAST ADAMS LIBRARY DISTRICT (Ritzville, WA) LED BY: WRNS Studio

Location: Events B (First Floor)

3:40 – 4:00 PM

BREAK/VISIT SPONSORS

4:00-4:50 PM

Balancing Region-Wide Builds

In this panel, architects will share some of the exciting and innovative strategies available when library building projects and facility master plans are considered from systemwide and library network perspectives. Panelists’ extensive experience covers multi-branch library systems in urban, suburban, and rural areas, as well as independent library districts and city and county systems.

Panelists:

Mark Schoeman | Design Principal, Anderson Brulé Architects

David Schnee | Principal Architect, Group 4 Architecture

Chris Noll | Principal Architect, Noll & Tam Architects

Moderator: Jason Johnson |Spokane Community Engagement Manager, Spokane Public Library

4:50 - 5:00 PM

Closing Remarks

5:00 – 6:00 PM

Cocktail Reception hosted by Integrus Architecture

Location: Events Rooms A+B (1st Floor)

The tour will meet at the Spokane Public Library at 3:00 pm and return there at the end of the day.

Libraries included in the tour:

The Central Library : • 117,000 square feet • 2 large event spaces that can be combined into 1 large space • Stage and event space overlooking Spokane Falls • 1 Maker Studio • 2 Conference Rooms • 5 private study rooms • River Rumpus Children’s Playspace • nxʷyxʷyetkʷ Hall • Inland Northwest Special Collections • New Leaf Café • Automatic Materials Handling • Media Studios including recording studio, podcasting studio, and video studio • Business Lab • Solar Panels and 4 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations • Social Stair

Shadle Park Library is SPL’s second busiest library and when renovated in 2021, it was doubled in size and hub for farm-to-table education was created – this location has a discovery garden, and demonstration kitchen and is our location for teaching about ways to combat food insecurity. This building renovation was designed by Group 4 Architecture and Planning.

Liberty Park Library is an incredible space designed by Integrus Architecture. It features floor to ceiling windows that overlook the park and make you feel like you are in the trees. The cozy interior reflects the nature and essence of the Inland Northwest. It is landscaped with a natural landscape with native plants buzzing with pollinators.

The Hive is an innovative library space that has won numerous awards from the American Institute of architects. Built in partnership with Spokane Public Schools, this facility offers no books, free public meeting space, teacher training facility, offices for Spokane Virtual Learning, and a robust artist in residency program. This facility was designed by Integrus Architecture.

Transportation will be provided