Mecanoo, together with local partner Martinez + Johnson Architecture, is among the three teams that were requested to submit design concepts for the redesign of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington DC, USA. The 37.000 m2 building is the only library designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and has been listed as a National Historic Landmark since 2007. In 1972 it replaced the original DC Central Library which was built by Andrew Carnegie between 1899 and 1903.

DC Public Library has not yet made a decision on the type or the extent of the renovations or additions to the library. Options for the redesign include renovation of the MLK Library as a stand-alone library or transformation into a mixed-use facility with additional floors. The selected team will aid library staff and consultants in exploring these options.