Georgetown University
Washington, DC

Dahlgren Memorial Library serves as the central library for the Georgetown University Medical Center. Its mission is to support the education, research, patient care and service activities of the School of Medicine, School of Nursing and Health Studies, biomedical science graduate programs, hospital and the Lombardi Cancer Center. Georgetown selected Ayers/Saint/Gross to prepare a feasibility study for the library’s renovation.

The purpose of this planning study was to develop a program and conceptual design for the interior and exterior. The renovation will improve general access to the library, provide better access to electronic information resources, foster collaboration among library departments, and better support the needs of the curriculum in the School of Medicine and School of Nursing and Health Studies. In addition, it will provide a more fertile platform for support of a top-tier research enterprise.

During the course of the planning study, a number of options were explored. The original plan for the renovation kept the new program within the existing building envelope. However, it quickly became apparent that this would not be sufficient to meet the intended purposes. The selected schemes propose that the area currently occupied by the exterior stairs to the podium be enclosed and used as library space. The exterior of the library above the podium is redesigned to increase natural light and to provide a more inviting facade. The library interior is redesigned to maximize student areas in an efficient and flexible arrangement. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are improved to meet required comfort and code mandates.

Completion: 2007
Size: 40,000 GSF
Cost: $9,645,221 (estimated)