The plans for the modernization of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, DC

1. MLK Modernization Final Designs

3. MLK

4. 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

5. www.ncpc.gov/project/mlklibrary

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

7. 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

8. Existing entrance

9. New entrance exposing west monumental stairs

10. New entrance exposing east monumental stairs

11. Entrance exposing monumental stairs and children’s slide

12. Existing 9th Street & G Place exterior

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

14. 1st Floor

15. 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

16. Existing vestibule

17. Vestibule exposing monumental stairs

18. Great Hall facing west monumental stairs

19. Existing public stairs

20. Existing public stairs

21. Monumental Stairs

22. Existing Great Hall
Photo Credit: Matthew Carbone

23. Great Hall with new seating area beneath MLK Mural

24. MLK Mural and new seating area

25. Digital Commons and enclosed meeting rooms

26. Digital Commons and enclosed meeting rooms

27. Existing Popular Library

28. Popular Library and Café

29. A Level

30. 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

31. Stairs from Great Hall to A Level

32. A Level Program Spaces

33. A Level Program Spaces

34. 2nd Floor

35. 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

36. Existing upper floor with interior brick walls

37. Existing upper floor brick interiors

38. 2nd Floor Community Alliances with brick interiors removed

39. 2nd Floor Teen Library

40. Existing Children’s Room

41. 2nd Floor Children’s Library

42. 2nd Floor Children’s Library

43. 2nd Floor Children’s Slide

44. 2nd Floor Center for Accessibility

45. 3rd Floor – Floor Plan

46. 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

47. 3rd Floor Collaboration Spaces and Study Rooms

48. Double-height Reading Room

49. Counter seating along windows

50. 4th Floor

51. 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

52. 4th Floor Exhibition Space / Auditorium entrance

53. 4th Floor Special Collections with custom Washington DC table

54. 4th Floor Special Collections

55. 5th Floor

56. 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

57. Design Evolution

58. Final auditorium concept

59. Final auditorium concept

60. Existing Roof

61. Fifth Floor Addition and roof terrace

62. Fifth Floor Addition and roof terrace