District of Columbia Public Library (DCPL), Washington, DC
“SIZE
585,240 SF
HIGHLIGHTS
Engineering design”
The DC Public Library is a vibrant center of activity for residents and visitors. These libraries provide an environment that invites reading, learning and community discussion.
Spread across 26 locations, the DC Public Library serves as a community focal point, offering books, services and programs, technology and community gathering space that promotes the joy of reading, discovery and community pride.
SETTY has been associated with DC Public Library on several projects such as:
DCPL Washington Highlands Library
SETTY undertook a thorough architectural and MEP building assessment in addition to professional architectural and engineering design services towards construction of the 22,000 SF, LEED Gold Certified Washington Highlands Library.
The library provides seating area sufficient to occupy more than 200 people in addition to a public meeting room that is large enough to accommodate approximately 100 people. The library also features a Children’s Program Room designed to be utilised as a reading and activity area for children and their caregivers. The project received the prestigious RIBA International Award for Architectural Excellence in 2013.
DCPL Woodridge Library
SETTY services include MEP/FP design for a 20,000 SF space at Woodridge Neighbourhood Library. Woodridge is the first DC library with functioning outdoor spaces such as a terrace on the first floor and an accessible green rooftop.
Featuring separate spaces for adults, teens and children, the library provides comfortable seating for approximately 200 people, 40 computers equipped with high-speed internet, large meeting rooms designed to accommodate up to 100 people, quiet study rooms, conference rooms and much more.
DCPL Tenley Friendship Library
Tenley Friendship Library is a 21,000 SF welcoming civic building that provides varied spaces to meet a wide range of community needs. SETTY provided acoustics and sound level commissioning to help create “white” noise and background noise to give the library a block to the outside noise influence.
The Tenley-Friendship Library has space devoted to children’s services, including a large collection of print and non-print resources such as CD books, DVDs, mixed-media kits, etc. for children up to the age of twelve. There is a distinctive area for Young Adults to meet and to learn. Adults have their own reading areas and a large collection of materials. This LEED Gold certified library received the Illuminating Engineering Society Award in 2012.
DCPL Southeast Library
SETTY provided a conceptual design in accordance with all DC, Federal, and local neighbourhood regulatory agencies and committees for the DCPL Southeast Library modernization. SETTY also provided support in the sustainability efforts to achieve LEED GOLD throughout the project.
DCPL Capitol View Library
Opened to public in 1965. the Capitol View Neighbourhood Library is part of the District of Columbia Public Library System. SETTY provided Commissioning services for the design and construction of renovations to the 22,240 SF Capitol View Neighbourhood Library.
The renovation incudes Replacement of major mechanical equipment and temperature control systems; Replacement of primary electrical service equipment; Lighting system upgrades and much more.
DCPL Martin Luther King Library
The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library was constructed in 1972 by the internationally renowned architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. In June 2007, the DC Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) designated the property, including the public spaces on the first floor, as a historic landmark and listed it in the DC inventory of Historic Sites.
The building needed numerous repairs, upgrades and improvements to help it adapt the current needs and demands of a public library. SETTY provided MEP design services towards multiple task orders.
The 400,000 SF library was completely transformed to include a spectacular new, vibrant and transparent entryway; Sculptured monumental staircase; large auditorium and conference centers and many more flagship features. The roof features a public terrace having a spectacular view connecting the building with its surrounding urban context in the heart of Washington, DC.
DCPL Cleveland Park Library
SETTY services include engineering design to build the new Cleveland Park Interim library of approximately 27,000 SF. The project is LEED Gold certified from the US Green Building Council 2020.
The new library features a range of sustainable technologies which include a ground source heat pump, geothermal wells, a Dedicated Outdoor Air System (DOAS) for ventilation and an energy-efficient radiant floor heating system. The design also contains roof-mounted photovoltaic arrays, LED lighting, and daylighting in its design. The project received 2019 Design Awards from AIA.
DCPL Palisades Library Renovation
SETTY services include MEP/FP design towards renovation of the Palisades Neighbourhood Branch Library. Opened to the public in 1964, this building is the second home of the library that was started as a subbranch in a one-room schoolhouse in 1928.
At the time of its opening, the Palisades Branch was one of the largest branches in the public library system with approximately 20,000 SF of space and a potential book capacity of 60,000 volumes.
DCPL Anacostia Library
SETTY performed Enhanced Commissioning of HVAC systems, lighting systems and envelope for the Anacostia Library. This two story high, 30,000 SF building features a library, conference rooms, offices as well as smaller rooms for group study and tutoring. The Anacostia Library relatively has a larger share of the library space devoted to children’s services than in other branches. This is due to the fact that its service area has more children than in other DC neighborhoods.
SETTY scope includes thermographic analysis of the building, building document review, optimizing air delivery systems, indoor air quality optimization, etc. The project is LEED Gold Certified.
DCPL Francis A. Gregory Library
The Francis Gregory Library is a component of the District of Columbia Public Library System which was initially opened in 1961. SETTY provided professional architectural engineering design services towards construction of the new 20,000 SF Francis A. Gregory Library.
This new, high-performance, state-of-the-art, LEED Gold Certified library is a two-story building that provides space for three major library services: adults, teenagers and children. It also features a public meeting room and conference rooms. The highly sustainable design takes advantage of natural vegetation, maximizing the winter sun exposure and controlling the summer sun with a large canopy over the pavilion.
This project won the prestigious AIA Potomac Valley Design Award in 2012 and Royal Institute of British Architects International Awards in 2013.
