The D.C. Public Library has selected 10 architect firms to move on to the next stage in the process to choose a design for the renovation of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library.

The District’s central library is 41 years old and in need of a facelift. Its redevelopment poses challenges for any would-be architect and developer, including the historic nature of the Ludwig Mies van der Rohe-designed building, which precludes major alterations to the building’s appearance, and the opposition to the expected mixed-use development from members of a vocal group founded and funded by Ralph Nader. 

Twenty-six architect firms responded to the city’s request for qualifications by the Sept. 23 deadline. DCPL selected 10 of those firms today and invited them to respond to a “request for technical proposal.” Responses are due by Nov. 18 and are not actual design concepts; rather, they’ll be judged on their approach to the project, their personnel, and their ability to comply with the city’s Certified Business Enterprise program. DCPL will choose three of those firms in mid-December to submit design concepts and present them to the public in the spring.

DCPL has also created a crowdsourcing platform for ideas from the public on what the renovation of MLK should entail. That platform can be found here.

The 10 firms invited to the next round are:

Photo by Aaron Wiener