Magnolia Branch
🏢 The Seattle Public Library — Seattle, Washington
Magnolia Branch
Opened July 17, 1964, the Magnolia Branch is a designated Seattle landmark and a textbook example of Northwest Regional Modernism — designed by architect Paul Hayden Kirk with landscaping by Richard Haag, the building won national recognition from the American Library Association the year it opened.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Wednesday | 12 PM – 8 PM |
| Thursday | 12 PM – 8 PM |
| Friday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Sunday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📖 About Magnolia Branch
Paul Hayden Kirk and landscape architect Richard Haag designed the Magnolia Branch as a classic expression of Northwest Regional Modernism, integrating the low-profile structure with its planted surroundings. The branch opened on July 17, 1964, and earned immediate national recognition from the American Library Association for its design. Original furnishings were crafted by celebrated woodworker George Nakashima; artist Glen Earl Alps contributed the exterior metallic sculpture "Activity in Thought" (1965), and Ebba Rapp McLauchlan's four-foot stone sculpture "Girl Holding Doves" (1964) has stood in the children's section since opening day. A 2007–2008 renovation under the Libraries for All program updated the building while preserving its landmark character; Meyer Wells created new pieces from reclaimed wood, including a table and bench milled from a walnut tree felled in 2006 storms. Seattle's Landmarks Preservation Board later formally designated the building a city landmark.
⭐ What makes this branch special
- Designated Seattle city landmark, designed in 1964 by architect Paul Hayden Kirk — a founding figure of Northwest Regional Modernism
- Original George Nakashima-crafted furniture and Glen Earl Alps exterior metallic sculpture "Activity in Thought" (1965) still on display
- Stone sculpture "Girl Holding Doves" (1964) by Ebba Rapp McLauchlan in the children's section since opening day
- Renovated 2007–2008 under the Libraries for All bond program, with new reclaimed-walnut furnishings by Meyer Wells
- 24/7 book return slot on W. Armour St., south wall, for after-hours returns
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Magnolia Branch considered architecturally significant?
The branch was designed in 1964 by Paul Hayden Kirk and landscape architect Richard Haag as a classic example of Northwest Regional Modernism. It won national recognition from the American Library Association and has been formally designated a landmark building by Seattle's Landmarks Preservation Board.
Are the original furnishings still in the Magnolia Branch?
Some original pieces survive. Renowned woodworker George Nakashima crafted the original walnut furniture. During the 2007–2008 renovation, Meyer Wells added new pieces made from reclaimed wood, including a table and bench from a walnut tree lost in the 2006 storms, complementing the Nakashima tradition.
Is there art inside the Magnolia Branch Library?
Yes. The branch holds several commissioned works: Glen Earl Alps's metallic sculpture "Activity in Thought" (1965) is in the exterior courtyard, Ebba Rapp McLauchlan's stone "Girl Holding Doves" (1964) is in the children's section, Steven D. Fuller created a three-panel fused glass screen (1970), and Kristin Tollefson's woven steel wire sculptures "Catch + Release" were added in 2008.
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