Page 26 - Summer_2019

ArchDC Summer 2019.qxp_Spring 2019 5/22/19 2:57 PM Page 24

The new Cleveland Park Public Library, as seen from the corner of
Connecticut Avenue and Macomb Street, NW. The tall, portal-like
window and door surrounds recall the stripped classical architecture
of nearby historic commercial and civic buildings.

The (Quiet) Life
The (Quiet) Life courtesy of Perkins Eastman DC

All photos © Joseph Romeo,

of the Neighborhood
of the Neighborhood

Cleveland Park Gets

a Striking New Branch Library by Ronald O’Rourke

At the new Cleveland Park Public Library on a recent groups. And all the while, the library’s reading spaces
weekend afternoon, the meeting room just inside the were being well used by area residents of various ages,
main entry was filled by a children’s business fair, with a many of them immersed in books or periodicals, or
panel of young entrepreneurs discussing their projects focused on their laptop computers.
while proud parents and other adults listened attentively. That’s exactly how things are supposed to be at the
Downstairs, in one of the library’s lower-level meeting new facility, which was designed to function not only as a
rooms, a group of adults was engaged in a discussion of library, but also as a community center for a neighborhood
Buddhism and peace. Both of the rooms were booked with a strong sense of identity and many active civic
throughout the day with meetings and events for various organizations, but a dearth of public meeting spaces. The

24 THE (QUIET) LIFE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD