Development News

Representatives from Bing Thom Architects presented the new plans for the revamped Woodridge Neighborhood Library in Northeast D.C. during a recent community meeting.

The two-story brick building, which opened in 1958 and is the only library within miles, will be rebuilt to feature a third floor and a modern roof canopy. The concepts show open spaces positioned to take advantage of natural lighting, a reading lounge, conference and meeting rooms, and more. 

"We've been very fortunate to have well-respected architects design several new libraries," said George Williams, D.C. Public Library (DCPL) media relations manager. "We want each new library to be a unique and iconic building so that people are drawn into the building."

The Woodridge library is the latest DCPL library to be updated, under a massive initiative to update all of the library system's facilities. In April 2012, DCPL selected Bing Thom Architects, responsible for Arena Stage’s renovation, and Wienceck + Associates, Mayfair Mansion Community Center designer, as the architecture team for Woodridge.

From the concepts shown, the Woodridge Library will have a reading terrace and a green roof on the third floor, capacity for more than 200 people, study rooms and windows overlooking Langdon Park. The new building will be around 22,500 square feet.

"The architects were asked to design a unique, iconic building that creates a sense of place," Williams says. "They had to show that they understood the Library’s building program, the budget requirements for the project and the size of the building."

$16.5 million has been allocated for the project, which is scheduled to open in 2015, with a late 2013 groundbreaking.

Once construction begins, the library will move to an interim location at 18 Douglas St. NE, a little over a mile from its current location. Five full-time librarians work at the Woodridge location.