By David Kosub (Contributor)
As part of the redevelopment of the Lamond-Riggs Neighborhood Library, the proposed design plans were presented to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts on January 16, 2020, and again on April 16, 2020 (agenda and meeting presentation here with minutes expected in May/June). Below is an excerpt from the Commission’s letter to the DC Public Library (DCPL) on April 23, 2020, following the April meeting indicating they approved the final plans.
The Commission of Fine Arts approved, based on its prior review of the submission materials, the proposed final design for the replacement of the Lamond-Riggs Neighborhood Library, located at 5401 South Dakota Avenue, NE. The Commission members expressed appreciation for the project team’s responsiveness to their previous guidance, including clarification of the architectural details and materials and the refinement of the site plan in order to create a sequence of south-facing public spaces that extend the library’s uses through shady, semi-enclosed outdoor rooms.
A recap of the January 2020 Commission of Fine Arts meeting is available here where they reviewed the proposed concept and made some suggestions to DCPL. The “previous guidance” referenced above relates to the following:
- Prioritize retaining the proposed perforated aluminum facade screen as it is essential to the overall design concept
- Requested additional documentation of the perforated screen and its connection to the curtainwall system, as well as the typical details for the various components of the facades
- Plant additional trees on the site to extend the concept of the abstract trees depicted on the facade screen (intended to be reminiscent of the landscape across the street that will soon be lost to a new mixed-use development) into the actual landscape of the library
- Reconceive the proposed parking lot to be a part of the landscape, rather than keeping it as standard pavement, be pervious, and reconfigured to allow for the possible extension of the building’s facade further along the South Dakota Avenue frontage, as well as for the inclusion of additional plantings, such as shade trees, near this corner
- Include a canopy and planting more trees to provide shade for the proposed outdoor seating
- Refine and simplify the proposed material palette to bring additional continuity to the ground plane and furnishings.
ETA: The project website is https://www.dclibrary.org/newlamondriggs
Next Stop...Riggs Park 
The Lamond-Riggs Library recently surpassed an important milestone. The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) approved the architectural designs submitted by HGA on April 16, 2020.
The next steps are to host one more community meeting to share the final designs, announce closing and opening dates, and describe “what you can expect during construction”. But, Martha Sacoccio, Interim Director, Office of Community Engagement, offered these comments prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. So, I anticipate some revisions.
DCPL, like other city agencies, anticipates reductions in the Mayor’s revised budget. The DC Office of Chief Financial Officer estimates revenue shortfalls of $721.8 and $773.6 million in FY20 and FY21, respectively. The DCPL operating budget will certainly be impacted by these shortfalls. However, the Lamond-Riggs Library project is funded by general obligation bonds. So hopefully, this project should remain fully funded.
I believe the Lamond-Riggs Library rebuild will continue at a slower pace. I feel DCPL has three daunting tasks to address:
• Assess impact of future budget shortfalls;
• Develop guidelines to reopen library branches while observing social distancing and
protecting staff and patrons; and
• Reopen the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library.
The Lamond-Riggs Library build is a priority, but there are a myriad of larger issues that DCPL must also contend with.
Such a beautiful design, and the refinements—specifically the additional shade trees and improved integration of the parking area into the landscape design—are great refinements. I like that the building has some distinguishing characteristics (e.g. the metal screen; outdoor deck; etc.) while not forgoing the practical elements of what a community library needs, or putting forward an experimental design that may not age well (looking at you, Woodbridge Library). I hope the project is able to move forward ASAP, despite all the budgetary complications associated with COVID.