Community, education, transparency, inclusion. These are just a few of the words that describe what the soon-to-be transformed Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, DC, will be known for. The historical landmark will be a space where people can experience the joy of exploring new subjects, collaborating with others, and creating in shared spaces, all while showcasing the life and legacy of Dr. King.
The MLK Library, which opened in 1972, was designed by German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The renovation will metamorphosize the iconic building to include over 425,000 square feet of space, the addition of a fifth floor community area, a grand reading room that will span two floors, a rooftop patio and garden, a new children’s space complete with a slide and interactive play area, and a café—accompanied by an open, engaging atmosphere that will make you want to spend the entire day at the library.
Perfect Pair: Martinez + Johnson and Mecanoo
The architectural team behind the renovation is a partnership between Martinez + Johnson in Washington, DC, and Dutch firm Mecanoo. Both firms have long histories of innovative design and decided to join forces when the design competition was announced.
Thomas E. Johnson, FAIA, principal and lead architect on the project for Martinez + Johnson is licensed in three jurisdictions. His partner, Gary Martinez, FAIA, NCARB, is licensed in 29 (with the help of his NCARB Certificate), which has enabled them to design projects across the nation—from the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in Frederick, MD, to the Peabody Opera House in St. Louis, MO.
Mercanoo has an equally impressive resume, most recently known for the Library of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, which captured international attention with its refreshingly open and modern design. Dutch architect Francine Houben, founding partner and lead architect on the Mercanoo team, has over 32 years of experience. Together with her partner, Dutch architect Sebastiaan Kaal, the pair has worked on many high profile projects including the New York Public Library’s upcoming renovation.
Designing a Modern Marvel
Johnson and Kaal, along with their teams, have spent the last two years dreaming up ways to make the library as much about a sense of community and acceptance, as learning and reading. With an unprecedented amount of public input, they’ve had the unique opportunity to hear what the community wants for the library. “It’s been a friendly, collegial process so far, and we’ve heard a lot of great ideas,” said Johnson. “This building is such a central public feature that it incites a lot of passion and enthusiasm. We read each and every suggestion, and took them into account when considering how the building will be used.” One such suggestion was having a grand, open reading room that will span the fourth and fifth floors.
One of the challenges for the design team is finding a balance between creating a modern, state-of-the-art space while respecting the Miesian design. Johnson told us, “Mies used to say that buildings have the ability to adapt, and [he] recognized—even as he was building the library—that libraries could become churches or apartment buildings in the future.” The building is a bit of an outlier of Mies’ work, as it was constructed as “four, one-story buildings stacked on top of each other with load bearing cores, which we plan to make more open,” said Johnson. “It will continue with Mies’ concept of universal design while solving current problems without losing its grandeur. Respecting its history while embracing the future.”
Preserving a Legacy
Not only will the building itself transform, but the library programming will be updated to better reflect the legacy of Dr. King. Richard Reyes-Gavilan, executive director of the library, says they have tentative plans to “start a scholar-in-residence program in which a visiting scholar would deliver programming focused around the library’s special collections—which contain everything from photos of the civil rights movement to community archives—speaking on the historical significance they have to Dr. King.”
Another exciting possibility for new programming includes an interactive display that would show the history of Dr. King and his connection to the DC area—mapping everything from where he wrote his famous “I have a dream” speech to the Poor People’s Campaign marching route.
“The spirit of Dr. King will best be honored by democratizing this building in terms of atmosphere, and making the space more usable so the public feels optimism and delight when in it,” said Gavilan. “The new design and programming will be more welcoming and help create a place that, regardless of why someone is visiting the library, they will feel included because there will be something for everyone.”
With renovations slated to finish in the fall of 2020, there’s plenty of time to imagine how the library will breathe new life into the community. It’s fitting that a space honoring Dr. King will embrace an open, inviting design, and most importantly, a new sense of belonging for anyone who visits.
