Bigfork ImagineIF Library

The new home of the ImagineIF Library in Bigfork, Montana, is a renovated 6,000 sq. ft. church hall designed as a place of exploration and discovery for people of all ages. The vision for the project acknowledges that, in many ways, libraries serve as a bridge in their communities — a bridge between people, generations, technology, and learning. This bridge metaphor is especially important in creating a strong sense of place for the community of Bigfork, which is located next to Flathead Lake and tucked into Bigfork Harbor with bridges that cross Swan River.

The design expresses the bridge metaphor through architectural forms that visually and functionally connect the spaces throughout the building. For example, the team designed wood-beam elements that span the volume of the large, open ceiling space. These include a bridge-like feature that connects front and back entrances. From the front entrance, you can see through the building, inspiring curiosity and drawing people into the building. Going out the back entrance, you can discover an amphitheater space surrounded by trees.

Understanding that a 21st century library is much more than books, the space is fully equipped and enabled from a technology perspective. Given that the floor of the building is a solid concrete slab, the design team thought to utilize the hollow wood beams that hold up the bridge element to run power throughout the space. This solution is not only cost effective, but also functional and aesthetically pleasing, tying into the overall theme of the project.

Modern forms and materials serve as a backdrop for discovery both inside and outside the building with a variety of environments to explore. Shapes inside mimic rivers, trees, and mountains. For example, the team designed elements that create dappled light and shadows (much like in a forest) with clerestory windows that direct light through shapes cutout in the balcony-area railings. Wavy, blue acoustic baffles in the ceiling space serve a functional purpose as well as represent a river flowing through the building.

The exterior design is minimal and modern and includes a wood-slat rain screen on the front and back faces of the building. The concrete entrance and exit forms act as “buttresses” to the interior bridge element. The rear of the building features landscaping that utilizes the existing grade to provide an outdoor area for small events.

With the client’s support and blessing, the design team utilized the Bigfork library as Design for Freedom pilot project — one of only 12 projects worldwide. In partnership with Grace Farms Foundation, Design for Freedom pilot projects are helping to accelerate the movement to end forced/slave labor in the building materials supply chain by modeling transparent, forced-labor-free materials selection through rigorous research, and demonstrating ethical design principles by creating examples of a more humane built environment.

The ImagineIF Libraries — located in Bigfork, Columbia Falls, and Kalispell — provide educational and recreational materials, programs, and resources to promote literacy, inspire lifelong learning, and enrich the community.