District of Columbia Public Library / The Freelon Group Architects

District of Columbia Public Library

Washington, DC , USA

© Mark Herboth

Architects: The Freelon Group Architects
Location: 4450 Wisconsin Avenue Northwest, Washington, DC 20016, USA
Area: 21472.0 ft2
Year: 2011
Photographs: Mark Herboth

General Contractor: Forrester Construction
Structural Engineer: Stewart Engineering
Mep Engineer: Setty and Associates
Landscape Architect: Lappas + Havener
Civil Engineer: Delon Hampton & Associates
Lighting Design: Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design

© Mark Herboth

From the architect. The Tenley-Friendship Library has space devoted to children’s services, including online access, a large collection of print and non-print resources (CD books, DVDs, mixed-media kits, etc.) for children from birth to age twelve. Children’s librarians provide regular story programs in which they model early literacy behaviors and reader’s advisory services to children and their caregivers to encourage reading and early literacy.

© Mark Herboth

Tenley Library is a welcoming civic building that provides a variety of spaces to meet a wide range of community needs. Spaces include a large public meeting room (for approximately 100 people), two smaller meeting rooms, a children’s program room, as well as smaller rooms for group study and for tutoring.

© Mark Herboth

Stack areas for print and non-print materials are available for users of all ages. Multiple points of access to virtual spaces through the public PCs and wireless access for people with their own electronic devises are provided. The children’s area has spaces (including collection and seating) dedicated to various age groups (five and under, beginning readers and elementary age). There is a distinctive area for Young Adults to meet and to learn. Adults have their own reading areas, online access area and a large collection of materials.

© Mark Herboth

A diverse, robust collection and online resources are available to users of all ages. A variety of spaces are accessible to individuals and groups to use, including study tables and chairs, lounge seating, group study and tutor rooms, and three public meeting rooms to accommodate groups of different sizes.