Woodbridge Library Redesign
Architect: Bing Thom Architects
Client: DC Public Library
Location: Washington, D.C.
Completion: Late 2015

The ongoing redesign of Washington, D.C.’s Woodridge Library takes into account the rapidly evolving world of technology that is changing how and what we read. Created by the design team of Bing Thom Architects and Wiencek + Associates, the modern 22,500-square-foot library will stand apart from its 1958 single-story predecessor with its white walls and interior curves surrounded by exterior angles. Similar to his previous collaborative design process for the Surrey City Centre Library in British Columbia, Thom met with the Woodridge community while drafting this design, listening to them share their visions, which could be reflected in a rear entrance that will open directly out onto the grassy Langdon Park. Other elements further reinforce this indoor-outdoor relationship: an open multi-story floor plan, large windows providing an abundance of natural light, and a rooftop deck. Thom’s design fosters a place for community interactions and gatherings of different sorts and sizes, even after library hours, while still supporting traditional intimate spaces for reading and studying.