The Benning Neighborhood Library is being replaced. The old building has been razed and services currently are being provided via an interim library two blocks east of the old building site. The architecture firm of Davis, Brody, Bond Aedas is designing the new library. Plans are nearing completion. The new two-story library will be 24,000 square feet and will provide inviting spaces for services to adults, young adults, and children, as well as multiple meeting spaces for community use. The library will have a flexible design, incorporating at least 30 public access computers, including a mobile laptop cart that can be used for computer literacy training classes.
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Benning Library Web Cam
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Check out the progress
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The exterior will have a strong, iconic street presence in the neighborhood. The building’s upper level, accessible via the north entrance on Benning Road, will house most of the library’s programs including:
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Adult reading area;
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Young adult reading area;
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Reference and periodicals section;
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Children’s area with adjacent children’s programming room; and
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Two 12-person conference rooms.
The lower level, directly accessible through the parking lot entrance, will house a large community meeting room (capacity for 100 people), a small workroom for the Friends Group, as well as staff support and work areas and the building’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing system access. Public restrooms will be located on both levels.
The Library plans to seek a LEED certification of at least “Silver” for this building. Energy efficient features will include a raised floor for optimized air circulation, use of materials with high recycled content, and several other elements. The site will have parking for approximately 14 vehicles.
As part of the design process, the Library hosted a series of Community Design Meetings to seek input from residents. Summaries of these meetings are listed below. The community also was involved in the selection process for the architectural team.
If you have any questions or comments please submit them to the following email address: BenningCommunityFeedback@dc.gov.
Past Community Meetings
Community Design Meeting, June 5, 2008*
Meeting focus: Schematic design
Public meeting to provide the community with an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed schematic design and scaled model of the new Benning Neighborhood Library. The design team gave a brief overview and following this, DC Public Library staff was available to discuss the project and answer questions. The comments in this summary were made by the participants in a facilitated discussion.
Community Design Meeting, March 18, 2008*
Meeting focus: Schematic design
Public meeting to provide the community with an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed schematic design and scaled model of the new Benning Neighborhood Library. The design team gave a brief overview; following this, DC Public Library (DCPL) staff were available to discuss the project and answer questions. The comments in this summary were made by the participants in a facilitated discussion.
Community Design Meeting, December 11, 2007*
Meeting focus: Schematic design
Public meeting to provide the community with an opportunity to help shape the design of the new Benning Neighborhood Library. A brief overview presentation was given at 6 pm; following this, staff was available to discuss the project and answer questions. Comments were given verbally during the meeting.
Community Design Meeting, October 23, 2007*
Meeting focus: Conceptual design
Public meeting to provide the community with an opportunity to help shape the design of the new Benning Neighborhood Library. A brief overview presentation was given at 6 pm; following this, staff was available to discuss the project and answer questions. Comments were collected by comment card and during a facilitated discussion.
Hopes and Dreams Community Listening Session, July 31, 2007*
Meeting focus: The communities' top priorities for their library.
Community listening meeting and discussion of hopes and dreams for the new Benning Neighborhood Library.
Library Response to Hopes and Dreams Session, July 31, 2007*
A community meeting was conducted early in the planning stages for the new library with the purpose of listening to the attendees hopes and dreams for the new Benning Neighborhood Library. Fifty-three community members added their names to the sign-in sheets. DCPL Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper and other staff representing DCPL were there to listen.
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