Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, Central library in Penn Quarter, Washington DC, United States.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library occupies a four-story modernist building with glass and steel architecture at 901 G Street Northwest.
The building, designed by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, opened its doors on August 21, 1972 as the main branch of District Columbia Public Library.
The library houses multiple departments including the People's Archive, which maintains documents and photographs about Washington DC's local communities and neighborhoods.
The facility contains advanced computer stations, study rooms, creative labs for digital projects, and meeting spaces available through an online reservation system.
A fifth-floor terrace provides direct views over downtown Washington DC while hosting outdoor educational programs and community gatherings throughout the year.
Location: Washington, D.C.
Inception: 1972
Architects: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Mecanoo
Official opening: August 21, 1972
Architectural style: International Style
Floors above the ground: 5
Address: 901 G St NW, Washington, DC 20001 20001 20001
Phone: +12027270321
Email: firstfloormlk.dcpl@dc.gov
Website: https://dclibrary.org/mlk
GPS coordinates: 38.89860,-77.02470
Latest update: May 12, 2025 18:02
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe shaped modern architecture with buildings across Europe and North America. His structures feature geometric forms, steel, glass, and clean lines. The Farnsworth House in Illinois, Barcelona Pavilion in Spain, and Seagram Building in New York demonstrate his principles of reduction to essentials. His works include skyscrapers, museums, residences, and public buildings.
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