Howard S. Wright Partners With Multnomah County Library to Deliver Renovations

PORTLAND, Ore. (Oct. 14, 2025) — Howard S. Wright, a Balfour Beatty company, is partnering with Multnomah County Library to deliver three transformative library projects that will expand access to learning, community and innovation across Portland. The projects include the expanded St. Johns Library, the expanded Belmont Library and the brand-new location of Northwest Library.

These renovations and new construction efforts are part of Multnomah County Library’s 2020 voter-approved bond.     

• St. Johns Library: Originally built in 1913, St. Johns Library is undergoing an expansion that will add 2,900 square feet to the existing library. The updated facility will include a large meeting room, new teen area, expanded children’s space and improved accessibility features. Construction began in early 2024 and is expected to open to the public in spring/summer 2026.
• Belmont Library: Belmont Library is undergoing a major expansion that will nearly double its size to 15,000 square feet which is well suited for one of the County’s busiest libraries. The expansion will create a modern, inclusive space that reflects the needs of the community. The new, two-story addition, which features mass timber, will be approximately 12,000 square feet and includes two large meeting rooms, teen and children’s areas, study rooms and improved technology access. The project topped out in summer 2025 and is on track to open to the public in spring/summer 2026.
• Northwest Library: Located in Northwest Portland, this brand-new location will be approximately 11,000 square feet and designed to serve one of the city’s most densely populated neighborhoods. The facility will include flexible community spaces, a large meeting room, areas for children and teens and enhanced technology access. Construction began in 2024, and the project has achieved Temporary Certificate of Occupancy as of September 2025. This library is expected to open to the public in early 2026.

Balfour Beatty is a provider of general contracting, at-risk construction management and design-build services for public and private sector clients across the U.S. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, the company performs heavy civil, rail, and a broad variety of vertical construction in select local geographies. Visit balfourbeattyus.com.