Library public meeting tomorrow night: featuring renowned architect, David Adjaye

(I should really go to a Community Forklift party tomorrow, since I am on the board, and this meeting is really really hard to get to via transit...)

From Robin Diener, DC Library Renaissance Project:

Public to Meet Renowned Library Architect David Adjaye,Selected to Design Two Libraries East of the River

The DC Public Library will hold a public event for members of the community to meet with world-famous young architect David Adjaye. Selected by DCPL to design rebuilds of the Francis Gregory and Washington Highland branches, both in neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River, Adjaye is celebrated for his Idea Store libraries in London, England.

Wikipedia image of an Idea Store library.

“Idea Stores” are multistory community, cultural, and learning centers that shook up the notion of library by incorporating cafes and dance studios, classrooms for adult literacy and college courses offerings, extensive web access and childcare “crèches” for learners. In 2006, Adjaye’s Whitechapel Idea Store was shortlisted for the Stirling Prize for the greatest contribution to British architecture that year. Take a virtual tour of the Whitechapel Idea Store.

Meeting, reception with David Adjaye
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Matthews Memorial Baptist Church
2616 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, SE.

Adjaye's fee for both library buildings will come out of $2.6 million DCPL has slated for design, which includes money for his local architectural partner, Wiencek + Associates. Each building will cost about $9.5 million.

Further information about David Adjaye:

-- Washington Post, “An Architect for the Books” by Philip Kennicott
-- The Guardian, “Portrait of the Artist” interview series
-- Adjaye Associates