1.
MLK Modernization Final Designs

2.
MLK

3.
Summary of Community Engagement
• Feedback from thousands of DC residents
• Public Architect Selection Process
– Technical Evaluation Committee
– MLK Advisory Panel
• 13 Subject/Age-Specific Focus Groups
• 60 Community/Stakeholder Meetings
• NCPC Oversight and Public Review

4.
www.ncpc.gov/project/mlklibrary

5.
PASSIVE ACTIVE
QUIET
LOUDPUBLIC
STAFF
COMMMUNITY /
ASSEMBLY
Design Approach

6.
What We Heard
• A more welcoming entrance
• Incorporate more glass for more visibility
• Add a café with tables and seating outdoors
• Remove brick wherever possible
• Make it easy to find the stairs
• Bigger, faster elevators

7.
Existing entrance

8.
New entrance exposing west monumental stairs

9.
New entrance exposing east monumental stairs

10.
Entrance exposing monumental stairs and children’s slide

11.
Existing 9th Street & G Place exterior

12.
New Café Patio on 9th Street & G Place

13.
1st Floor

14.
What We Heard
• Open up the stairwells
• Make it easier to find your way around the building
• Activate the Great Hall. It feels empty
• It would be such a joy to walk up a well-lit public
staircase

15.
Existing vestibule

16.
Vestibule exposing monumental stairs

17.
Great Hall facing west monumental stairs

18.
Existing public stairs

19.
Existing public stairs

20.
Monumental Stairs

21.
Existing Great Hall
Photo Credit: Matthew Carbone

22.
Great Hall with new seating area beneath MLK Mural

23.
MLK Mural and new seating area

24.
Digital Commons and enclosed meeting rooms

25.
Digital Commons and enclosed meeting rooms

26.
Existing Popular Library

27.
Popular Library and Café

28.
A Level

29.
What We Heard
• Brighten up the A Level. It is intimidating / scary
• Provide more program spaces in a variety of sizes
• Include all the latest technology
• Put the noisy activities on the lower level

30.
Stairs from Great Hall to A Level

31.
A Level Program Spaces

32.
A Level Program Spaces

33.
2nd Floor

34.
What We Heard
• Eliminate wasted spaces and long dark corridors
• Neighborhood needs a child-centered space
• Make the teen space comfortable with a variety of
seating
• Natural light and view to outside

35.
Existing upper floor with interior brick walls

36.
Existing upper floor brick interiors

37.
2nd Floor Community Alliances with brick interiors removed

38.
2nd Floor Teen Library

39.
Existing Children’s Room

40.
2nd Floor Children’s Library

41.
2nd Floor Children’s Library

42.
2nd Floor Children’s Slide

43.
2nd Floor Center for Accessibility

44.
3rd Floor – Floor Plan

45.
What We Heard
• There needs to be a great reading room – well lit,
big space
• Seating near the windows
• Include study spaces like you have in the branches
• Incorporate public art

46.
3rd Floor Collaboration Spaces and Study Rooms

47.
Double-height Reading Room

48.
Counter seating along windows

49.
4th Floor

50.
What We Heard
• Provide space for exhibits
• Be sure to honor Dr. King in the building
• Make it easier to find Special Collections
• Create an event space for conferences and
meetings

51.
4th Floor Exhibition Space / Auditorium entrance

52.
4th Floor Special Collections with custom Washington DC table

53.
4th Floor Special Collections

54.
5th Floor

55.
What We Heard
• Include an auditorium space for performances
• Create a place where people can sit outside and
read or meet friends
• Include pre-function space
• Incorporate “green” elements into the design

56.
Design Evolution

57.
Final auditorium concept

58.
Final auditorium concept

59.
Existing Roof

60.
Fifth Floor Addition and roof terrace

61.
Fifth Floor Addition and roof terrace