A rendering of the planned Southwest Library. Image by Perkins+Will, courtesy of DC Public Library.

Southwest DC will soon finally have a library again. DC is set to open its new $18 million Southwest Library building this spring, more than a year after the old branch closed.

The library at 900 Wesley Place SW, designed and built by Perkins+Will Architects and Turner Construction, includes environmental sustainability features, meeting and study rooms, outdoor spaces, and a focus on natural light.

The Southwest Library is just one of a number of libraries DC has updated or replaced in recent years. A facilities master plan published last year outlines goals to expand the District’s smallest libraries, improve equity, and address service gaps.

Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen took a walk through of the Southwest branch and posted pictures of the new space on Twitter. Here are some of the highlights:

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Tagged: charles allen, dc, public spaces

Libby Solomon was a writer/editor and Managing Editor for GGWash from 2020 to 2022. She was previously a reporter for the Baltimore Sun covering the Baltimore suburbs and a writer for Johns Hopkins University’s Centers for Civic Impact.