Page 21 - 256149_ArchDC_Winter 2021

Front desk and main staircase.

The interior of the library follows DCPL’s ceiling material, with felt panels to absorb sound. The
standard program for branch libraries, comprising DLT and post-and-beam structure do not offer cavities
approximately 20,000 square feet divided into areas for wires, ducts, and pipes, so many of these systems
for adults, teens, and young children, plus community are exposed—and therefore had to be carefully laid
rooms and miscellaneous other spaces. The only out and coordinated. This was extra challenging due to
diversion from the standard program is the outdoor the design-build arrangement set by DCPL, in which
reading porches at the northeast corner of the building, pricing of different building systems and elements
an idea that the architects pitched to further connect precedes the design work. The architects had “a great
the library with the park and community. The library deal of back and forth with subcontractors,” said
lobby and adult reading room are at the north side, Gribeluk, to come up with aesthetically acceptable
overlooking the park; a series of secondary spaces configurations that met the impossible-to-change budgets.
(bathrooms, offices, meeting rooms, fabrication Construction started in February 2020, just before
laboratory, utility service rooms) is at the south side; COVID-19 shutdowns. In a remarkable stroke of luck,
and the librarians’ counters and teens’ and children’s the prefabricated wood construction required a crew of
areas are in the middle. A grand, open staircase only five people—within the limits that the DC mayor’s
connects the two stories. Because it is in a flood plain, emergency executive order allowed—so construction
the building is raised about four feet above adjacent continued apace. The outdoor spaces also have proven
grade, and there is no basement. COVID-friendly, as well as popular with library
The wood structural system is “DLT”—dovetail patrons. The building achieved Platinum status under
laminated timber—which is similar to its better-known the LEED for New Construction program.
cousin CLT (cross-laminated timber) but constructed
somewhat differently. It is broadly exposed as the

URBAN RE-RENEWAL 19