Cleveland Park Library Construction Project

Cleveland Park Library Construction Project

Library has Closed; Construction has begun

 The Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library, located at 3310 Connecticut Ave. NW, is being rebuilt. The Library hired the design/build team of Gilbane and Perkins Eastman for the project, which is funded at $19.7 million. The new library will be larger to accommodate expanded space for children, teens and adults. The new library will re-open in 2018.
 

Design

The new building will be larger and will feature more meeting rooms as well as the following:
 
  • Warm, wood finishes with plenty of natural light.
  • A large, dividable first floor meeting/assembly space to accommodate 205 people. When divided, each space will accommodate 100 people. This combined space represents the largest meeting room of any of our neighborhood branch libraries.
  • A dividable meeting room on the lower level that can accommodate up to 105 people. When divided, each space will accommodate about 45 people.
  • A 400 square foot second-floor conference room that can seat 10-12 people.
  • Four private study rooms for up to 4 people each.
  • An outdoor reading garden that can be enjoyed by all customers.
  • Two second floor balconies where customers can enjoy reading al fresco.
  • Many environmentally friendly features -- the Library will seek LEED Gold Certification.
  • Several pieces of art from the old library will be incorporated into the new building.
The new library will be a spectacular and iconic addition to the Cleveland Park and Woodley Park neighborhoods.

View the latest designs, which were shared with the community at a meeting on Sept. 21, 2016. Some of the detail finishes shown in the renderings may yet change.

Interim Library Service

The interim library, located on the campus of the University of the District of Columbia, at 4340 Connecticut Ave. NW, is open. The 3,000 square foot library has the same operating hours as the old library. 

Construction Schedule

The current building closed permanently on Saturday, Oct. 8. Demolition work is complete and construction has begun. The new library will open in 2018. For questions regarding design or timeline, please contact Martha Saccocio @ martha.saccocio@dc.gov or 202-727-1188. For urgent questions regarding issues on the construction site only, contact Rauzia Ally at rauzia.ally@dc.gov.

Historic Review Process

While the Cleveland Park Library was not an historic structure, the site is located within the Cleveland Park Historic District. Given this, the design needed to be approved by the D.C. Historic Preservation Review Board. In addition, because it is a public building, the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts also reviewed and approved the design.

Community Engagement

Community input was a critical part of the design process. The Library hosted six community meetings, and conducted surveys and focus groups to gather input about what spaces and services residents want in their new library.

View comments and ideas in the Cleveland Park Library Idea Community.

View comments from May 13, 2016 meeting.

View comments from the June 15, 2016 meeting.

View comments from the Sept. 21, 2016 meeting.

View comments from June 25, 2015 meeting.

Building Facility Assessment

Prior to beginning design, the Library conducted thorough pre-design due diligence work. This work helps eliminate unknown building issues and informs decisions regarding building design, and helps determine whether the modernization approach is to rebuild or undertake a major renovation. Due diligence included a thorough building cost-benefit assessment that looked at the entire building. The CBA determines the useful life of the systems and makes recommendations for repair or replacement.

The CBA also looks at the library’s Neighborhood Library Building Program and makes recommendations to the level of demolition or renovation needed to meet the program.The library program is the document that determines the amount of square footage needed. All these factors are then given a cost estimate that compares renovation vs. new construction. It is not the only document used to make the choice between demolition/new construction or renovation, but it does help the Library make an informed decision.

Read a history of the Cleveland Park Library written in 1996 by the Friends of the Cleveland Park Library in cooperation with library staff.
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