10.31.25
Holgate Library of Multnomah County Library won big at the recent 2025 AIA Oregon Design Awards, taking home accolades including an Honor Award, the program’s highest distinction.
As our first public library project, recognition for this new public amenity in Southeast Portland is especially meaningful as it celebrates the values we prioritized from the start: community, lifelong learning, and design excellence.
“What a magical space you created,” the jury noted, marveling that it allows children “to experience the power of good design, in a place where you get to be curious and learn.” The library’s design theme of a butterfly was also celebrated as “one of the strongest concepts that wasn’t literal, but carried through in almost every element of the design.”
Thank you to AIA Oregon for this special honor, and many congrats to Multnomah County Library and our all-star team!
Bora Team: Jeanie Lai, Thuy Le, Emily Wilson, Corey Squire, Leslie Cliffe, Becca Cavell, Kate Stuart, Garrett Helm, Sarah Matta
Owner: Multnomah County Library
Community Engagement: Colloqate
General Contractor: Swinerton
Structural: Equilibrium Engineers
MEP: Arris Consulting
Interactive Learning: The Burgeon Group
Landscape: PLACE
Timber: Kalesnikoff
Photography: Josh Partee, Lara Swimmer