Winthrop Library / Johnston Architects

Washington State’s Methow Valley has a combined population of 14,000-20,000 part and full-time residents. The town of Winthrop in the heart of the valley was previously underserved by a small library with inadequate access to resources and services. Residents were eager for change. By prioritizing community collaboration in the design process, the architects were able to quantify the community’s hopes for their new library while directly addressing what wasn’t working, creating Winthrop’s ideal civic space.