7/26/2019 MLK Library Testimony

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David Garber

Testimony to HPRB January 22, 2015

HPA 15-137 Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library, 901 G St NW

My name is David Garber, and I am a resident of Logan Circle in Northwest DC. Im here

because Ive been following the exciting process of the MLK Librarys planned expansion and

renovation, and because I believe that we have a unique opportunity to preserve whats specialabout the Mies building while also injecting new life into it. As an MLK library user, I am

looking forward to the day when it feels like real investments have been made to bring the library

into the 21stcentury, while retaining some of the mid-century roots that give it its unique

character.

That said, seeing the latest design updates based on historic preservation and other reviewing

agency comments left me feeling frustrated and disappointed. When the city decided to reinvest

in the Mies building rather than build a new flagship downtown library at City Center, the

message wasnt that we wanted to keep things as close to exactly how they are as possible. The

message was that we saw the value in an architecturally significant building, and that we wanted

to turn what is now a mostly drab and enclosed space into a showpiece that is both functional and

beautiful.

The design competition held last year to create that showpiece also encouraged the kind of

creativity that many in the city were and are still excited about. Architecturally distinct modern

additions, bold interior alterations in the name of openness and functionality, and very

refreshing in federal DC a general coloring outside of the lines. To watch a world-renowned

architecture firm win the competition based around a certain bold and publicly applauded vision,

and have that vision warped by a subjective and frankly overly cautious historic review process

should be viewed as moving backwards, rather than forward.

Im here today to urge the board to reject the two concept alternatives presented to you today, and

to reject the Historic Preservation Offices report and call for a reconsideration of Section 106

Option C, including the translucent glass cores, the removal of selected opaque walls,construction of a two-story oval theater on the fourth floor, the curvilinear roof addition which

is more appropriate to distinguish it from the sharp lines of the existing structure or if re-

considered at a later date, the more architecturally-bold multi-story addition, and pedestrian-

unfriendly and uninviting exterior walls. I was particularly offended by the notion that the rooftop

not be activated, as it is visible from surrounding buildings. Adding vibrancy and green space to

our citys roofs is an incredible way to add vital public space and new experiences of and in the

city. It would be a massive missed opportunity to lose out on what can and should be a defining

feature of the new MLK library experience.

As a reviewing board tasked with preserving and highlighting our built heritage, I appreciate the

weightiness of adapting a unique building and bringing new design elements to a space that

hasnt seen much of any alteration since its original completion. I hope you will take thisopportunity to help shape a new central library that respects the original intent of the design while

bringing in new life, new reasons to visit, and bold design statements. Freezing the existing

building in amber and only calling for muted and what comes across as fear-based minimal

changes is the wrong direction. Lets show the rest of the country that its capital city isnt afraid

of progress and architecturally significant adaptive reuse. Preservation and contemporary

architectural expression are not mutually exclusive, especially for a public building meant to

highlight the best of built democracy and to draw new users to a now-stale space.