When Multnomah County Library (MCL) launched a series of new building initiatives, the first project undertaken was a new Operations Center. This center is a vital part of the county’s library network: new books and materials coming into the library system begin their journey here, items placed on hold are sorted and transferred, and specialized materials and services for outreach programs are developed onsite.

The project was an adaptive reuse of an existing grocery store with the addition of a second story; the renovated building is now two stories with approximately 75,000 sq. ft. of space. MCL hired Hennebery Eddy Architects, Inc. as the lead architect and interior designer. 

In turn, Hennebery Eddy turned to Biella Lighting Design to develop the lighting concept. The critical element of the interior lighting was to effectively illuminate the working heart of the center: the stacks of books and materials that are stored and moved through the facility, eventually transiting to the various library branches. Lighting in these spaces is primarily linear, with a focus on functionality. 

Beyond the stacks, though, there was an opportunity to distinguish the lighting. 

“We really wanted to offset the miles of linears,” said Tereza Wiest, associate at Hennebery Eddy and project architect/project manager for the Operations Center. “We presented a concept image to Ella Mills, principal at Biella Lighting Design, and she came back with Luminis’ Hollowcore HC1600 luminaire.”

A total of 77 Hollowcore high efficiency high bay pendants illuminate corridors, staff lounges, and relaxation spaces. The ceilings in these areas are quite high, with exposed infrastructure such as the HVAC system. So, the goal was to provide ambient illumination with a comfortable glow to enhance the wood surfaces, ceilings, and walls. 

"From a design standpoint, we were looking for a product with downlight and some uplight that was decorative, yet fit with the industrial nature of the building," Mills said. "Hollowcore has a very appealing, timeless look and complements the surroundings very well. It also has the right scale for this project, so the fixture is large enough to fill the space volume, but doesn't feel compressed by all the exposed structure and ductwork."

Each luminaire delivers 3272 lumens of downlight and 1039 lumens of uplight; Hollowcore’s semi-opaque lens contributes soft direct and indirect illumination. Mills chose a color temperature of 3500K, which is the county standard for public library buildings. 

Hollowcore brings powerful illumination to the various spaces, but with a modern aesthetic that enhances its surroundings. The pendant is 19” in diameter and features an attractive hollow center. And its gun metal finish completes the contemporary, industrial feel. A 48” stem was utilized to bring the luminaires well below the exposed infrastructure. 

"We dropped the pendants a bit lower to create a plane and draw your eyes down from the pipes and ductwork above," said Mills. "But the illumination is so comfortable, with no glare or harsh shadows, even up close.”

Everyone involved with the project has been very positive about the final result, including the library team itself. 

"We are really pleased with the lighting," Wiest said. "The Hollowcore pendants provide a nice soft light in the corridors and break areas, and bring an element of visual interest.”

PROJECT NAME: Multnomah County Library Operations Center

LOCATION: Portland, Oregon, USA

CATEGORY: Interior Lighting

PROJECT COMPLETION: January 2024

ARCHITECT: Hennebery Eddy Architects, Inc.

LIGHTING DESIGNER: Biella Lighting Design

LUMINIS AGENT: Harry L Stearns, Inc.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Bob Kerns Photography

ART PICTURED: David Rice, Kyler Martz (Portland Street Art Alliance), Tenya Rodriguez (RACC)