New Oregon Library Showcases Acoustic Mass Timber and Net-Zero Design

The two-story, mass timber building more than doubles the size of the previous library and reimagines it as a vibrant, flexible, and inclusive civic space.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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In the heart of downtown Redmond, Oregon, a new library designed by The Miller Hull Partnership and Steele Associates has been built in collaboration with Deschutes Public Library. The two-story, mass timber building more than doubles the size of the previous library and features a vibrant Children's Discovery Space, a teen area, flexible meeting and co-working rooms, and a creative maker space designed for all ages.

Why it matters

The new Redmond Library reflects the city's growth, diversity, and future-forward vision, with extensive public input shaping the design to create a tailored civic space that serves the local community. The building's sustainable features, including net-zero energy performance and low-carbon construction, also set a high bar for eco-friendly civic architecture.

The details

The library's design balances historical context with a modern civic identity, featuring a brick volume on the north that references Redmond's historic downtown and a contrasting glass and metal-clad structure to the south that brings in natural light and mountain views. The all-electric building supports a photovoltaic array sized to meet 100% of the library's annual energy needs, making it a net-zero energy building. Inside, the warm interior features exposed mass timber on columns, beams, and ceilings, with the use of acoustic dowel-laminated timber allowing the wood's natural beauty to be showcased while meeting the library's acoustical requirements.

  • The new Redmond Library opened in February 2026.

The players

The Miller Hull Partnership

The architectural design firm that collaborated with Steele Associates on the Redmond Library project.

Steele Associates

The local architectural firm that collaborated with The Miller Hull Partnership on the Redmond Library project.

Deschutes Public Library (DPL)

The public library system that commissioned the Redmond Library project and provided input on the design.

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What’s next

The Redmond Library is one of several new and modernized libraries across Deschutes County designed by Miller Hull and Steele Associates, with a shared system of building controls and specifications developed to streamline maintenance and operations across the library network.

The takeaway

The Redmond Library's community-driven design, flexible spaces, and sustainable systems showcase how a modern civic building can serve the diverse needs of a growing population while setting an example for eco-friendly architecture.