Library Buildings around the World

Peabody reading room sits neatly within the roof restoration under the new cupola and takes advantage of the views of Georgetown
through the new dormers.
As a contributing structure to the Georgetown Historic District, the design for the Georgetown Library had a number reviews to
undergo. M+J shepherded the design through an extensive series of neighborhood meetings, fully vetting both the interior design as
well the exterior restoration design with neighbors and the ANC. Formal reviews took place with the Old Georgetown Board, the
body that handles reviews in Georgetown for the US Commission on Fine Arts. Reviews with the Historic Preservation Office were
on an informal basis, but just as rigorous as if the project were to go before HPRB. (Martinez)
Takoma Park Library, Washington DC – USA 2009
Takoma Park Library has been serving this community since first opening in 1911. This historic building was a Carnegie-funded
facility, set in nationally registered historic district. In recent years it became the goal of the DC Public Library system to restore and
renovate many of their libraries so that they can continue to meet the demands of the District's residents. In 2008, Martinez+Johnson
Architecture, as a part of a design/build team was asked to provide interior and exterior renovations for this historic structure, all
within an exceedingly exacting budget. The DC Public Library (DCPL) and the supporting neighborhood groups had a vision of
what they wanted to accomplish at the site, complete with some initial design parameters. M+J was able to successfully work with all
of the parties involved to further define the scope of the project, given the budget that had been established when DCPL accepted the
design/build proposal. The exterior design effort required a working relationship with the Historic Preservation Office in order to
develop the most appropriate restoration scheme.
The interior of the building did not have an official DC landmark designation, never the less, M+J's design had to maintain the
original interior aesthetic while adapting it to the technologies and services required by a modern library user. Designs were drawn
for new HVAC and lighting systems, library stacks, security desk, and computer stations. In addition all the finishes in the building
were upgraded according to M+J's design. This project was completed in March of 2009. (Martinez)
Maryann Thompson Architects, Cambridge, MA - USA
(formerlyThompson and Rose Architects)
http://www.maryannthompson.com
Libraries:
The Atlantic Center for the Arts, New Smyrna Beach, Fl. – USA 1997
Awards:
Two State of Florida grants
1998 American Institute of Architects National Honor Award for Design Excellence
1997 I.D. Magazine Annual Design Distinction Award
1996 Boston Society of Architects Design Honor Award
1995 American Wood Council Honor Award
the 1995 Progressive Architecture Citation Award
1993 Boston Society of Architects Unbuilt Architecture Award.
The project has been featured in several publications including the September 2001 issue of A+U, the June 1997 issue of
Architectural Record, the June 1996 issue of Architecture, the February 1994 issue of Progressive Architecture, the March 1994
issue of INSITE magazine, and the November 1994 issue of Architectural Record. The project was included in the Norton guide to
250 key 20th Century American buildings.
The Atlantic Center for the Arts offers artists residency programs in a lush Florida jungle setting. The Center offers residencies to
writers, dancers, visual artists, composers, choreographers, and actors. Past participants include Allen Ginsberg, Lukas Foss,
Robert Rauschenberg, Edward Albee, Alice Aycock, and other nationally known artists. The program includes a black-box theater,
painting and sculpting studios, recording studios, a dance studio, a library and various support spaces. The design includes six
buildings interwoven into an indigenous Florida jungle landscape, linked by an elevated boardwalk, and made of wood, glass, and
metal. The project completed an intensive value engineering process, and the design team worked closely with the construction
manager to refine building costs so that the project came in below budget. Construction was completed in 1997. (Maryann)
S Meek Architecture, San Francisco, CA – USA
Susannah Meek
http://smarchitecture.com
Libraries:
Portola Library, San Francisco, CA – USA 2009
see: Noll & Tam
Richard Meier & Partners Architects, New York, NY – USA
http://www.richardmeier.com
Libraries:
Life Science Technology Building, Cornell University, Ithaca,NY – USA 2001 - 2007
The Getty Center, Los Angeles, CA -. USA 1984 – 1997
The Research Library at the Getty Research Institute focuses on the history of art, architecture, and archaeology with relevant
materials in the humanities and social sciences. The range of the collections begins with prehistory and extends to contemporary art.
Presently, the collections are strongest in the history of western European art and culture in Europe and North America; however, in
recent years, they have expanded to include other areas, such as Latin America, Eastern Europe, and selected regions of Asia.
The general library collections (secondary sources) include over one million volumes of books, periodicals, and auction catalogs. The
literature of art history, the methods and materials of artistic production, and conservation are core areas of the holdings in classical
antiquities, medieval and Renaissance art, sculpture and the decorative arts, prints and drawings, and photography. The
conservation collection includes more than 45,000 titles and 60,000 volumes of primary and secondary sources related to the
conservation, management, and protection of cultural property from paintings to architecture.
The special collections contain rare and unique materials in selected areas of art history and visual culture. Predominately works on
paper, these collections include rare books, prints, and photographs. Archives, manuscripts, sketchbooks, and albums provide
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