MLK Library Renovation Design Concepts

martinez + johnson /
martin luther king jr. memorial library
washington, D.C.
martinez + johnson / mecanoo
concept design in progress, 05.19.2014

round table presentation held on 4.24.2014
the design team created 2 studies for the lower level, ground
level and level 2
levels 3, 4 and 5 are the same in option 1 and option 2
lower level
ground level
level 2
level 3
level 4
level 5

area comparison
current situation vs. proposed
existingbuildingproposed

option 1
ground level
option 2
ground level
“Have more displays. Make the Great Hall
eye-catching”
“You should see lots of people engaged in
library-related activities upon entering.
“the exterior is boring. It doesn’t draw
attention. Have activities going on under the
overhang.”
“Coffee shop on main level with free WiFi”
community comments:
”Children’s room should be easily accessible and
inviting. Right now, the space is hard to find. The
story time space is completely hidden.”

proposed concept plan
ground level
lobby, library of birmingham, UKv
children’s, library of birmingham, UK
outdoor cafè, library of birmingham, UK

option 1
lower level
option 2
lower level
“Teen space, having an Innovation Space on
same floor feels right; good place to Beta
test anything/everything”
“Make it free-flowing – lower floor could be –
teens & innovation”
“Have a space that would accommodate a
whole class where they can talk. Teachers
would be able to bring a whole class to the
library to conduct research. Room should be
close to stacks and have access to the online
catalog.”
community comments:

lower level
teen area, fontys school of sport studies,
eindhoven,, NL
innovation and prototyping, AMOLF,
amsterdam, NL
teen area, sterren college,
haarlem,, NL

option 1
level 2
option 2
level 2
adults: “plenty of space for quiet study and
reading”
adults: “Merge people that bring their own
technology and people that do not.”
adults: “Provide more resources for career
development and entrepreneurs and learning
technology skills that are helpful in finding a
job.”
community comments:

level 2
adult services, TU library, delft, NL
adult services, library of birmingham, UK

level 3
adult services, TU library, delft, NL

level 4
meeting event spaces, library of
birmingham, UK“Special Collections feels like a back alley
buried on the 3rd floor. It should be
featured more prominently in the
building.”
“Better auditorium space for movie
screening – and more comfortable
seating in it”.
community comments:
supervised research area, library of
birmingham, UK

level 5/roof
community comments:
“Create a green space on the roof
where customers can sit and read and
eat or drink a cup of coffee.”
staff garden, library of birmingham, UK
public garden, library of birmingham, UK

list of “improvements“
1. open up all three horizontal floors
2. bring in more natural light and natural ventilation
3. improvement of the environment (thermal insulation, new heating and cooling)
4. new restrooms with clear sight lines
5. new finishes (paints, flooring, ceiling and signage)
6. new layout and furniture
7. transparent vertical public cores
8. activate ground floor / great hall
9. improve existing lighting / new lighting and better acoustics
10. improvement of the public realm G place and the alley
11. Roof garden / public terrace
12. elegant / simple beam with solid ends as an option

open up all three horizontal floors
imagine taking away the brick walls, this is a column free space!!!!
staff zone
public zone
staff zone
public zone
existing public zone MLK Jr. Library
existing floor plan (L2-L4)
proposed floor plan (L2-L4)

more natural light and natural ventilation
people - not the books - should have daylight
people can enjoy their connection with the city / better orientation
existing public zone MLK Jr. Library
public seating along facade, library of birmingham, UK

new restrooms with clear sight lines
no hidden corners
reference image, restroom
without hidden corners
reference image, restroom
with overview of space
existing public restroom in MLK Jr. Library

new finishes
no carpet, but hard floor is durable & hygienic
existing floor (carpet) MLK Jr. Library new floor (hard materials are durable & hygienic)

new layout and furniture
timeless quality and simplicity
existing furniture, MLK Jr. Library - timeless quality and simplicity
- consistency of design and
materials
- easy to clean
- durable
- movable

transparent vertical public cores
study 1 -- stairs

study 2 -- stairs

study 3 -- ramps

Activate the great hall
the market hall, welcoming, improved visibility inside and outside
“Have more displays. Make the Great Hall eye-catching”

activate level 1 / great hall
lectures, book signing, TED talks, recitals
“You should see lots of people engaged in library-related
activities upon entering. Perhaps the Great Hall should
be a reading room. It’s too empty.”

improvement of the public realm, G place, and the alley
view from G place, ….remove barrier walls, create areaway
imagine…there is so much potential here!
“the exterior is boring. It
doesn’t draw attention.
You need better signage
outside and it would be
great to have activities
going on under the
overhang.”
existing G Placeexisting loggia on G Place

artist impression of the proposed loggia on G place looking west

artist impression of the proposed loggia on G place looking east

café, library of birmingham, uk
the alley, proposed ground level plan
existing alley on 9th street
existing loggia on 9th street

the alley, proposed ground level plan
artist impression of the proposed loggia on 9th street

elegant / simple beam with solid ends as an option
not competing with the public building

-elegant / simple beam with solid ends as an option
not competing with the public building

MLK Library Renovation Design Concepts

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MLK Library Renovation Design Concepts