New Highlands Library finally ready to open

After months of delay and high public anticipation, the Renton Highlands Library is set to open its doors this Saturday.

The new library, located on the corner of Northeast Sunset Boulevard and Northeast 10th Street, offers more space and resources for its patrons.

“The desire was to have a newer functioning library with a greater access to a larger library collection,” said John Sheller, library cluster manager.

Sheller noted that the older library was so popular that “it felt like it was overcrowded.” One of the issues was the lack of computers available.

“Access to computers is really important to Renton Highlands,” said Sheller. “We’ll now have 24; we had 12 before.”

The new library will also have additional infrastructure to accommodate patrons with laptops and electronics, such as cyber bars with adequate power sockets and USB ports.

The children’s section has expanded, both in its collection and in space. The library now includes a new section for teenagers, as well as a larger meeting room and multiple study rooms. A parking garage is located right beneath the building.

Sheller said that many of the design elements were inspired by Boeing. Most notably, the red accent walls represent the historic Boeing Red Barn and the floor-to-ceiling windows at each end of the building that invite a flood of natural lighting and give the illusion of an airplane hanger. The airplane motifs are found everywhere from the lighting fixtures to the furniture in the children’s section.

“[We] wanted to capture elements of our history with Boeing and aircrafts,” Sheller said. “There is a strong history of the aircraft industry.”

According to Sheller, the use of strategic design to create an expansive and welcoming space is crucial to ensure patrons’ overall experience at the library.

“Being in our libraries is an intellectual adventure. That can occur in the books or in the building or it can occur in noticing the little details,” he said.

The opening of the library was originally scheduled for last October but was pushed to February due to vandalism. The rescheduled opening was then postponed due to construction delays.

The Renton Housing Authority houses behind the library are about to be torn down so the area can be turned into into a city park. An apartment complex by Colpitts Development is set to come on the other side of the library soon.

According to Greg Smith, KCLS director of Facilities Management Services, the city is currently revamping Sunset Boulevard, impeding proper access to the library. The library and the apartment complex is to share a garage entrance from Sunset Boulevard, however, due to construction, a temporary entrance is built from Northeast 10th Street into the parking garage.

“It is going to be hard for patrons to get into the library till the developers get their work done,” said Smith. “The building is beautiful and ready to serve the public, other than the accessibility issue.”

Due to ongoing construction outside the library, there will be no opening ceremony on Saturday, Mar. 26. However, Sheller said that a grand opening ceremony conducted by the city can be expected sometime in the summer, once outside space becomes available.