Mayor Muriel Bowser today opened the new, $19.7 million Cleveland Park Library. Located at 3310 Connecticut Avenue, NW, the Cleveland Park Library is the 19th neighborhood library to be renovated or rebuilt since 2008, and the first new library to be built in a historic district.
“The Cleveland Park Library was already a popular neighborhood destination, and with this new library, we only expect it to attract more visitors,” said Mayor Bowser. “By investing in and staying committed to improving our public libraries, we have been able to design libraries that work for and fit into the neighborhoods they serve. We have built tremendous facilities that will benefit our community for years to come.”
Before closing for construction, the Cleveland Park Library was the District’s busiest neighborhood library, and the new 27,000 square-foot facility was designed to meet the community’s expanded needs. Opening with 70,000 items, the library is designed to achieve LEED Gold Certification and includes:
- a first-floor meeting space that will accommodate up to 205 people;
- two 45-person meeting rooms on the lower level that can be combined to fit 105 people;
- four private study rooms for up to four people each;
- an outdoor reading garden that can be enjoyed by all customers; and
- two second floor balconies for outdoor reading.
“The new Cleveland Park Library is at once bold and iconic yet deeply respectful of the neighborhood’s historic architecture,” said DC Public Library Executive Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan. “The flexible design, natural light and inspiring spaces will ensure its relevance for generations to come.”
The Library hired the design/build team of Gilbane and Perkins Eastman DC for the project. They partnered with Saxon Collaborative under the Library’s Mentor-Protégé program. Developed with the DC Department of Local Small Business Development, the program creates opportunities for smaller firms to gain experience working on government contracts.
The Mayor was joined at the ribbon-cutting by Chairman Phil Mendelson, Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh, At-Large Councilmember David Grosso, DC Public Library Executive Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan, and DC Public Library Board of Trustees members.