The effort to rebuild the fire-gutted Georgetown Neighborhood Library is moving forward with the award of the design contract to a D.C. architectural firm.
Martinez & Johnson Architecture, with its partner firm Seattle-based Hoshide Williams, won the $1.67 million, 10-month deal to redesign the Georgetown library, which was heavily damaged in an April 30 three-alarm blaze. The contract includes renovation of the historic main structure, and possibly a new addition.
D.C. Public Library officials say residents should expect a “state-of-the-art” facility. Jeffrey Bonvechio, the library system’s director of capital construction, said the $20 million project is on schedule. The construction contractor will be chosen next January, with an anticipated grand reopening toward the end of 2010.
“The library again will be a beacon for the community,” Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper said in a statement.
Martinez & Johnson’s D.C. designs include the Summit Grand Parc, the Gallup Building, Cady’s Alley and Alban Towers. Hoshide Williams is experienced in historic renovation, including three Carnegie libraries.
The initial call for bids on the design contract was issued last August. Eight firms responded, but only recently was Martinez & Johnson chosen the winner.
“I suppose we always hoped it would move more rapidly,” said Charles Eason Jr. of Georgetown’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission. “Nonetheless I’m pleased we’ve gotten to this stage and I’m looking forward to the new architects engaging with the community in terms of what our expectation and desires might be so we can take advantage of this opportunity to build a facility that will be a real asset to the community.”
The library fire destroyed the children’s room and left much of the building heavily damaged from water and smoke. Roughly 80 percent of the precious documents, artwork, maps and ceramics in the facility’s Peabody Room were saved. Investigators determined the fire was accidentally caused by construction workers using a “mechanical heat device.”
Firefighters struggled to bring the blaze quickly under control as the two fire hydrants closest to the building failed. It was a busy day for the D.C. fire crews: The Eastern Market fire occurred the same day.
