The recently completed Cleveland Park Public Library in Washington, D.C., whose designers from Perkins EastmanDC include a MAPP professor and alumnus, was awarded the 2019 AIA D.C. Chapter Urban Catalyst Award. Professor of Architecture Matt Bell, FAIA, Principal-in-Charge of Perkins EastmanDC, oversaw the project, and associate Matt Miller (B. ARCH ’12, M. ARCH ‘14) was the project architect. Tim Bertschinger and Emily Pasqual, served as project design leaders for the project, respectively.
Completed in June 2018, the Cleveland Park Library was rebuilt into a modern multi-functioning facility, providing 27,000 square feet of new space for children’s and adult collections, substantially larger and more flexible meeting rooms, conference facilities and study spaces connecting the community inside and out. Located just across from the Cleveland Park Metro Station, the library ranks among the top three most heavily trafficked and circulating libraries in D.C.
“Our city’s renaissance has been the result of our ongoing commitment to investing in public amenities and services,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser in a press release. “In that work, we have been very focused on ensuring we’re bringing our public libraries to life.”
The design team’s active engagement with the community helped create a library unique to the neighborhood. The new Cleveland Park Public Library—the first new structure built by D.C. Public Library (DCPL) in a historic district—combines modern and historic, taking cues from what was beloved about the old to inform the new.
“These awards acknowledge the work of good design in creating spaces that support the idea that libraries can be places of transformation,” said Richard Reyes-Gavilan, executive director of DCPL. “[The Cleveland Park Public Library] will please, serve and inspire the community for decades to come.”
Bell specializes in large-scale architecture and urban design. Professionally, he has been active throughout the Washington and Baltimore region with projects ranging in scale from waterfronts, new towns and neighborhoods to civic and mixed-use buildings and schools.
Miller has been practicing architecture for four years. His wide array of experiences includes all phases of projects in K-12, large scale, residential and government practice areas.
Copyright Joseph Romeo. Image courtesy of Perkins Eastman.