Celebrate Another Stunner in The Land of Lavish Libraries

All steel and blonde wood, the new Ballard library, opening this Saturday, May 14th, at 5614 22nd Ave. NW, appropriately resembles a modern-day Viking ship with a huge upward sweeping bow. Funded by the $72 million Seattle Center/Community Center levy that voters passed in 1999, the library is an architectural marvel that in may ways equals the main branch downtown.

Designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the building captures Ballard’s past and present, and it may just be the "greenest" building in all Seattle with its solar collectors, recycled materials, and sod roof, which is good for nesting birds, thermal insulation, and rain runoff.

The dedication starts at noon Saturday, followed by free festivities, including music by the Cajun band Les Femmes d'Enfer, the Ballard High School String Quartet, and Bygdedeal Scandinavian Group.