DMV Architecture Feature: Martin Luther King Jr. Library

Building is what we are passionate about at RessaBuilt. Turning an architect's dream into a homeowner's reality is why we do what we do. We complete many projects throughout the entire DMV region which allows us to work with an eclectic group of architects, clients, and home styles. These many differences are what keep our passion going as we love seeing new types of work that we have never engaged in before. Since DC over the years has brought people from many different backgrounds into the area, the architecture and vast styles of buildings that exist are staggering. When engaging with our clients, we will regularly point out examples from existing buildings that can be used to get their project's brainstorming process going. These examples can range from a historical commercial structure to a modern residential one. Let’s take a look at an example of one of the structures in the DC area that we find extremely compelling and which our clients could pull inspiration from.

The Martin Luther King Jr. library, located in downtown Washington D.C., specifically the Chinatown/Penn Quarter neighborhood, is an architectural fixture of the city.

Before the library was built, DC’s central library was located at Mount Vernon Square a few blocks to the north. The library was donated/financed by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in 1903 and designed in a Beaux-Arts style. By the late 1950s and early 1960s, the city determined that a newer and larger central library would be necessary as the city grew. Research began for a new location in which a larger and more technologically advanced library could be constructed.

By the late 60’s a new location had been determined and planning focused on design and functionality began. It was determined that Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, an architect at the forefront of modern architecture would design the structure. Mies, whose groundbreaking structures around the world had brought him great fame, surprisingly had never designed a building in DC, nor a library period. His goal for this project was a structure that was aesthetically modern while also being completely functional and meeting all the requirements of a public library in a major city. His design would end up attaining the goals he sought to accomplish. Unfortunately, Mies would not be able to see his project’s conclusion. The library would end up being completed and opened in 1972, nearly three years after his death in 1969.

To this day, the Martin Luther King Jr. library holds its own in a city known for historically significant architecture. Van der Rohe’s rectilinear steel skeleton, black glass, and expansive lobby featuring a mural of Dr. King are some of the aspects that make the structure so stunning. While it is difficult to improve such an already incredible building, a renovation occurring in 2020 added a garden roof deck along with a rounded, whimsically curved staircase that spans all floors.

When visiting or residing in DC, don’t overlook this landmark as a fantastic place to see some truly one-of-a-kind architecture.

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