(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser broke ground on the new Cleveland Park Library. Located at 3310 Connecticut Avenue, NW, the Cleveland Park Library will be the 20th neighborhood library to undergo renovation since the city began improving libraries in 2006. Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh, DC Public Library Executive Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan, and members of the DC Public Library Board of Trustees joined the Mayor to celebrate the new $19.7 million library.

“My Administration is committed to expanding learning opportunities for residents of every age, in every neighborhood - whether it’s through strengthening our schools, building new libraries or investing in child care,” said Mayor Bowser. “I have no doubt that this library will be a spectacular and iconic addition to the Cleveland Park and Woodley Park neighborhoods.”

When it reopens in 2018, the new Cleveland Park Library will include:

• a first floor meeting/assembly space that will accommodate up to 205 people;
• two 45-person meeting rooms on the lower level that can be combined to fit 105 people;
• four private study rooms, each with space for up to four people; and
• an outdoor reading garden and two second floor balconies for outdoor reading.

The Library is seeking LEED Gold Certification for the project.

“The Library is extremely proud to have partnered closely with the Cleveland Park community on the design of the new library,” said DC Public Library Executive Director Richard Reyes-Gavilan. “The iconic new building will be demonstrably larger than the one that was just demolished. When complete, the Cleveland Park Library’s robust collections and new meeting spaces will attract even more residents to what is already our busiest neighborhood library.”

The Library hired the design/build team of Gilbane and Perkins Eastman for the project. They have partnered with Saxon Collaborative, a CBE based in Ward 8, under the Library's Mentor-Protégé program. Developed with the DC Department of Local Small Business Development, the program creates opportunities for smaller firms to gain experience working on government contracts.

During construction, library services are being provided at an interim library, located at 4340 Connecticut Avenue, NW.

Renderings of the new Cleveland Park Library can be downloaded from: https://app.box.com/s/wetdyxl2i7ei95vkgjvoanoqb8tdmspx