Citation Recipient from the 2025 Architectural Portfolio: Bigfork Public Library
Key Highlights
- The project converted a 6,000-square-foot church recreation hall into a modern library.
- Strategically placed windowless spaces on the east side for computer and maker areas maximize natural light in reading zones.
The community in Bigfork, Montana, outgrew its classroom-sized library, so the Flathead County Libraries Foundation bought a 6,000-square-foot church recreation hall to create a 21st-century library tailored to Bigfork’s rural community. Adapting the nearly windowless building posed challenges. Spaces not requiring daylight, like computer and maker areas, were placed on the east side, where retaining walls blocked windows. Large new windows on the northwest side brighten the reading area. The building’s 13-degree retaining wall angle influenced the interior layout, encouraging diagonal pathways to a forested patio.
Read more about the Bigfork Library and view a photo gallery at SchoolDesigns.com.