June 18, 2009

Burien City Hall, library share space

Photo courtesy of KCLS [enlarge]

BNBuilders built the 58,000-square-foot structure.

Burien's new City Hall and library building opened last weekend at 400 S.W. 152nd St. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The three-story, 58,000-square-foot project was built through a partnership between the King County Library System and the city of Burien. The 32,000-square-foot library occupies the lower two floors and the City Hall is on the third floor.

The City Hall space includes offices, work areas, conference rooms and a large public lobby.

The library, which has more than 50 percent more space than it had in its previous building, includes more books, music, movies, magazines, computers, space for children and teens, and community meeting space.

A large meeting room on the first floor will be used by both the library and the city for large meetings, and will serve as the City Council chambers.

The project is part of a $200 million, 10-acre Burien Town Square development that also includes a park, condos, retail and parking.

The one-acre park in the center of Town Square has grassy areas, crushed granite pathways, water features and several pieces of artwork.

The 124-unit Burien Town Square condominiums has opened recently, along with 19,700 square feet of retail space. Another 169 condos and 25,000 square feet of retail are planned for a second phase of development.

The City Hall and library building was designed by Ruffcorn Mott Hinthorne Stine and built by BNBuilders, both of Seattle.

Urban Partners is the developer of Town Square. Its general contractor is Rushforth Construction of Tacoma. GGLO of Seattle designed the condos and retail space as well as the interior of the City Hall and library building.