Mecanoo, along with Martinez and Johnson, has been selected to design the revitalization of the Martin Luther King Jr. Library in Washington, D.C.

Originally designed by Mies van der Rohe, the library was completed in 1972 to honour the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. With the upcoming renovation, the city is trying to create a more modern space that will become a hub for community activity.

The project will redesign the 250,000-square-foot interior of the library to modernize the building. Netherlands-based firm Mecanoo will lead the design effort for the redevelopment, with creative director and architect Francine Houben leading the design team. Mecano will work on the redesign with Washington-based Martinez and Johnson, a firm with experience in historic renovation projects.

“We will pay respect to Mies van der Rohe and research what is possible to prepare this building for the library of the future. But most important is bringing out the values of Martin Luther King. My dream is to make this building to reflect his ideals,” Houben says.

Design teams competing for the project were asked to submit two ideas. The first on what they would do if the project was a straight renovation, and a second that included the possibility of a mixed-use building with additional floors above the existing building.