Mathew Albores, Project Manager at Miller Hull, told us: “If we’re going to invest in a beautiful material like mass timber, we want it to do three things — structure, architecture, and acoustics — and we want it to be seen. The raised access floor makes that possible.”
Design Strategy: Revealing the Structure, Concealing the Systems
The design team viewed mass timber not as a novelty but as a framework for structural, acoustic, and aesthetic integration. DLT panels were shaped to perform acoustically and visually, allowing the natural wood to define the library’s character and eliminating the need for suspended ceilings.
Yet this approach presented a design challenge: how to manage the mechanical, electrical, and data infrastructure without disrupting the clean, open ceiling plane. The answer was found beneath the surface. Tate’s raised access flooring system introduced a modular, underfloor plenum that discreetly routes air, power, and technology services. By relocating these systems underfoot, the team preserved the integrity of the timber ceiling — keeping the architecture both visually honest and technically agile.
“It’s a triple win,” says Albores. “We get exposed structure, concealed systems, and total flexibility for the client’s program.”
Traditionally, mass timber floors are topped with concrete for mass and acoustic separation. The Redmond team broke that convention. By omitting the concrete topping slab and using Tate’s integrated system, they reduced embodied carbon, minimized structural weight, and achieved greater flexibility for future reconfiguration.
The underfloor air distribution system supplies air efficiently at the occupant level, improving comfort and energy performance. Electrical and data systems run invisibly within the plenum, maintaining the uncluttered aesthetic that defines the library’s timber interiors.
When you subtract what you no longer need — ductwork, ceiling chases, even the concrete slab — the access floor isn’t an add-on. It’s a reallocation.
A Library Built to Evolve
Modern libraries serve as classrooms, community hubs, and digital workspaces — often simultaneously. Flexibility was essential. With Tate’s modular panels, diffusers, outlets, and data ports can be repositioned in minutes, enabling rapid adaptation as technology and programming evolve.
The raised floor made the building perform like a living system. You can change the layout tomorrow without tearing anything out.
Every decision supported the architectural goal of showcasing the timber. Ten-inch gaps between DLT panels allow for hidden conduit routing and recessed sprinklers while maintaining the warmth and rhythm of the wood structure. This coordination enabled 80% of the ceiling surface to remain visible — nearly twice that of a typical CLT project.
A site-specific sculpture by artist John Grade anchors the main reading hall, reinforcing the library’s commitment to art, craft, and environmental storytelling.
The Redmond Public Library’s sustainability story goes beyond materials — it’s embedded in how the building performs and adapts:
- No concrete topping slab: Reduced weight and embodied carbon
- Underfloor air distribution: Lower energy loads and improved air quality
- Locally sourced timber: Strengthened regional supply chains and environmental stewardship
The architect, Albores, is always looking at the full carbon picture.” According to Albores, “Mass timber gives us the structure; Tate’s system gives us the efficiency and flexibility to make that structure work for decades.”
The Redmond Public Library demonstrates how raised access flooring can unlock the full potential of mass timber architecture. By concealing complexity beneath a flexible surface, Tate’s system allows the architecture to celebrate what matters most — the honesty of materials, the clarity of space, and the enduring value of adaptability.
“Raised access flooring allowed us to keep the wood ceiling exposed, maximizing the design potential of the project,” says Albores. “This library will have a net-zero carbon footprint in its operation — a sustainable future where our structures harmonize with the environment.”
Photography: Lara Swimmer
