#OTJ Architects

[dezainnet]

MecanooとOTJ Architectsが手がけていたミース・ファン・デル・ローエが設計した「マーティン・ルーザー・キング Jr. メモリアル図書館」の改修工事が完了 (dezeen) Mecanoo and OTJ Architects complete renovation of Mies van der Rohe's Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library (dezeen)

[seeking--the--essential]

The staircase of the beautifully renovated Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library, Washington DC.

Mies van der Rohe’s last building and his only library and building in DC. A $211m modernization of the original 1972 building was completed in 2020 led by a design team comprised of the Dutch firm Mecanoo and local DC firm OTJ Architects.

[charpenterie]

Mecanoo and OTJ Architects complete renovation of Mies van der Rohe's Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library https://ift.tt/3EjRC5I December 21, 2021 at 10:13PM

[architectnews]

Mecanoo and OTJ Architects complete renovation of Mies van der Rohe's Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library

Architecture studios Mecanoo and OTJ Architects have added a rooftop garden and statement staircases to the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library in Washington DC as part of its renovation of the Mies van der Rohe-designed building.

Dutch architecture office Mecanoo collaborated with New Orleans studio OTJ Architects for the project, which involved a three-year-long renovation of the library that is named after the American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

Mecanoo and OTJ Architects have renovated the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library

The rectilinear black glass and steel building was the last building designed by renowned architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe before his death and his only library.

According to Mecanoo and OTJ Architects, the renovation intended to balance preserving the original building, which opened in 1972, with creating more open, active spaces.

A 1968 painted mural was preserved in the Great Hall

"Mies designed a passive library to sit and read in, but the reborn library is designed to be active, a place for doing and meeting," said the studios.

"It now embodies the spirit of advancement, inclusivity and hope that Dr King brought to the nation. The introduction of organic surfaces and softer lines is a strong contrast to Mies' strict hard-surfaced rectilinearity, but it creates synergy, not opposition, with the original building."

The ceiling was raised in the Grand Reading Room. Photo is by Robert Benson

In the main entrance lobby, named the Great Hall, the studios added vertical wooden slats to a recessed wall that is positioned underneath a mural painted by artist Don Miller that pays homage to the life of Martin Luther King Jr.

In front of it is a set of bench steps that invite people to sit and which "highlight the library's social gathering purpose", according to the Mecanoo's principal Francine Houben.

The architects added two statement staircases to the library

From the Great Hall the library's three storeys of reading rooms on its upper floors are accessed by a pair of wood-lined sculptural staircases featuring terrazzo steps.

A cafe was also added on the ground floor that opens out onto the street.

The first floor contains a colourful children's library

Mecanoo and OTJ Architects aimed to increase the amount of light and feeling of space in the reading rooms.

In the Grand Reading Room on the building's second floor the central area of ceiling was removed to create a double-height space and visually connect the room to the floor above.

The studios also removed bookshelves that were previously placed against windows on all of the upper floors.

Read:

David Chipperfield completes "surgical" overhaul of Mies van der Rohe's Neue Nationalgalerie

Below the main reading room, on the first floor, a colourful children's library was created complete with a slide that was inserted to add a sense of fun.

Above, on the third floor, an auditorium with curved wood-lined walls that can accommodate 291 people, was added.

Wood clads the walls of the new auditorium

On the building's roof a glass-walled pavilion, which houses conference rooms, was added. It was designed not to be visible from the street and is surrounded by a rooftop garden complete with  geometric planters, benches and garden tables.

"Set back from the edges, the pavilion is not visible from the street, from where the building’s profile and geometry look exactly as Mies designed it," explained Mecanoo and OTJ Architects.

A partially sheltered rooftop garden was added to to roof. Photo is by Robert Benson

Opened to library users for the first time, the lower ground floor holds areas called the Fabrication Lab and the Studio Lab, which host noisy, hands-on workshops and activities including dance and yoga respectively.

Mecanoo was founded in the Netherlands in 1984, while US-based OTJ Architects was established in 2011.

Previous public libraries designed by Mecanoo include an aluminium-clad library in Taiwan and the Macau Central Library, which features a light-filtering facade designed to open up like a book.

The photography is by Trent Bell unless otherwise stated.

The post Mecanoo and OTJ Architects complete renovation of Mies van der Rohe's Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library appeared first on Dezeen.

[birchleo1-blog]

A quick look at Webster Hall a month before it reopens

Webster Hall officially reopens on April 29 with a two-night stint by Spanish singer-songwriter Rosalía followed by Patti Smith on May 1-2. All four of these shows are sold out. (And there are the rumors that a band such as the Strokes, the National or the Yeah Yeah Yeahs will christen the new space at the end of the month before the official slate of acts.)

Ahead of the debut this month, here's a look at how the landmarked venue is shaping up outside here on 11th Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue...

As previously reported, Webster Hall is now owned by BSE Global and The Bowery Presents, whose booking the acts at the venue.

And here's a recap from a previously released press announcement:

The renovations at Webster Hall aimed to preserve the iconic features of the venue, while modernizing it to meet today’s entertainment standards and enhance the guest experience. The Lounge (formerly The Marlin Room) has been revamped to serve as a bar and meeting spot for ticketholders both before and after shows in the Grand Ballroom.

Design details of The Lounge include elegant gold stenciling on the walls that pays homage to the original historic design, and fluted glass along the bar that mimics the venue’s former windows.

In the Grand Ballroom, the original stage remains, while acoustics were enhanced to create an optimal live event experience. Fans and artists returning to Webster Hall will notice other new features such as central air conditioning, expanded restrooms, additional stairwells for smoother entry and exit, and the venue’s first-ever elevator that will serve guests with disabilities and speed up each show’s load-in and load-out process.

Behind the scenes, an artist compound was built with upgraded amenities to provide direct access to the Ballroom stage, creating a more comfortable and inviting environment for performers and their management. The venue’s basement level, formerly known as The Studio at Webster Hall, will also return, with more details to be announced at a later date.

The architect of the revived venue is OTJ Architects, the contractor is Shawmut Design and Construction, and acoustic design is by L’Acoustics. Once open, Webster Hall will employ an estimated 70 people across various positions in the venue, between front of house and back of house, on any given event night.

This landmarked building has been around since 1886. It re-opened as Webster Hall in October 1992 after the Ballinger family purchased and renovated the space that was known as The Ritz during the 1980s.

And for making it this far in the post, here are bonus photos of the Moxy East Village across the street from Webster Hall...

The 13-floor hotel via Marriott is expected to open at the end of the year.

Previously on EV Grieve: When Webster Hall reopens, there might be a Moxy Hotel across the street

First sign of upcoming renovations at the former Webster Hall

Permits filed to renovate Webster Hall

The Webster Hall marquee looks to be in danger of falling

Source: http://evgrieve.com/2019/04/a-quick-look-at-webster-hall-month.html

[crowlentil98-blog]

Webster Hall returns this spring

The new ownership of Webster Hall sent out an email yesterday with a bare-bones announcement:

To our closest friends,

Happy New Year, we've missed you! While we've been closed, we have made some venue enhancements and think you will dig them. While updates are still underway, we are pleased to say that Webster Hall will return in Spring 2019.

This announcement took Webster Hall watchers by surprise. Some previous reports suggested that the new concert venue wouldn't be ready until 2020. Billboard reported that there may be a name change here too.

However, it appears that the Webster Hall name will live on ... as seen in a digital rebrand and updated logo posted to Instagram (see below).

As previously reported, Webster Hall closed here on 11th Street between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue in August 2017. Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment and The Bowery Presents bought the landmarked building from the Ballinger family for $35 million in a deal announced in the spring of 2017.

The new ownership filed permits in December 2017 for interior demolition and structural work to renovate the facility and make it ADA compliant. The city approved those permits in March 2018.

Given the scope of the work, there doesn't seem to be that much activity coming from behind the plywood. (Of course it seems downright sedate compared to the full-tilt action going on at the new 13-story Moxy East Village directly across the street.)

EVG reader Tony took these photos from behind the plywood back in the fall showing some old outside wall demo and new I-beam ...

The Washington, D.C.-based Martinez+Johnson Architecture (now part of OTJ Architects) is behind the interior makeover. Per their website, the firm brings "their design sensitivities to cultural arts and institutional projects." Their work includes the restoration of the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn and the Boston Opera House.

Spectrum Catering and Concessions, which services the Music Hall of Williamsburg, Rough Trade and Brooklyn Steel, among other venues, is responsible for the food and beverage here. They applied for a liquor license via CB3 for the address back in the summer of 2017. According to the PDF of the application online at CB3, the old Marlin Room would serve as an additional bar and waiting area for concertgoers entering the grand ballroom.

The building has been around since 1886. It re-opened as Webster Hall in October 1992 after the Ballinger family purchased and renovated the space that was known as The Ritz during the 1980s.

And now the new-look logo...

View this post on Instagram

see ya in 2019! 🎉

A post shared by Webster Hall (@websterhall) on Dec 31, 2018 at 1:05pm PST

Previously on EV Grieve: When Webster Hall reopens, there might be a Moxy Hotel across the street

First sign of upcoming renovations at the former Webster Hall

Permits filed to renovate Webster Hall

The Webster Hall marquee looks to be in danger of falling

The Webster Hall marquee

Plywood arrives at Webster Hall

Source: http://evgrieve.com/2019/01/webster-hall-returns-this-spring.html

[baltimorecheckbook]

Cool Digs: Inside BGE's new energy efficient customer contact center

Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. opened a new center within its downtown Baltimore headquarters earlier this year to consolidate about 200 of its employees from two separate locations into one state-of-the-art center. The new customer contact center opened in the spring at 110 W. Fayette St. and serves as office space for the energy distribution company's employees. The 22,000-square-foot center was designed by OTJ Architects in Washington, D.C. The space was largely designed using neutral colors…

from https://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2018/07/30/cool-digs-inside-bges-new-energy-efficient.html?ana=RSS&s=article_search

[luhfbranded]

LUHF Branded Environments would like to congratulate OTJ Architects, one our industry partners, for their BEST IN INDUSTRY IN ARCHITECTURE AWARD from the Commercial Real Estate Brokerage Association! #architecture #awards #weLUHFit #partnerships #interiordesigner #creba (at Washington, District of Columbia)

[shop4retail]

NIKA Offices by OTJ Architects, Rockville – Maryland

Among the many intriguing elements in the design are sports-themed huddle rooms, workstation clusters, a lounge, pantry, two bars, stadium seating, and a game room, strategically interspersed throughout the floorplan to enhance NIKA’s culture. Metal finishes juxtaposed against graffiti walls lend the space a decidedly urban flair. from Retail Design Blog http://retaildesignblog.net/2018/03/26/nika-offices-by-otj-architects-rockville-maryland/

[nycexplorer]

The American Psychiatric Association moves into The Wharf

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) recently moved into its new flagship office at The Wharf, 800 Main Avenue SW in Washington, D.C. The OTJ Architects-designed space will occupy 63,000 sf across the building’s 9th, 10th, and 11th floors.

[jemmasmithinterior]

IIDA MAC Honors Two OTJ Designs at Yearly Premiere Gala

The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA MAC) recognized two of OTJ Architects' projects at its yearly Premiere …

from WordPress http://ift.tt/2r4z4C2 via Carpets Hertfordshire

[agosnesrerose]

The Raben Group office by OTJ Architects, Washington D.C.

The main concern with transitioning from private offices to a completely open environment was the noise factor. Therefore, there are mobile sound panels between workstations that move on a track to absorb sound at different locations when needed.

from Retail Design Blog http://ift.tt/2phGyk5

http://ift.tt/2pAKVWI

[seeking--the--essential]

The beautifully renovated Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library, Washington DC

Mies van der Rohe’s last building and his only library and building in DC. A $211m modernization of the original 1972 building was completed in 2020 led by a design team comprised of the Dutch firm Mecanoo and local DC firm OTJ Architects.

[retaildesignblog]

The Raben Group office by OTJ Architects, Washington D.C.

The Raben Group office by OTJ Architects, Washington D.C.

OTJ Architects has designed the new offices of public affairs consultant The Raben Group, located in Washington D.C. OTJ designed The Raben Group’s first space 10 years ago, with expansions done to accommodate the company’s growth. The original 3,500 SF space inspired the company’s rebranding through the architectural design. This most recent design reverses the sequence to create architecture…

[architectnews]

Documentary looks at the Mecanoo-led modernization of the Mies-designed Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington D.C.

Originally opened in 1972, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library was Mies van der Rohe's only library and his last building. The landmark was closed in 2017 to commence modernizations which have been completed this year, recently reopening the building last month. 

The three-year design and modernization project was led by Mecanoo and OTJ Architects. A full-length documentary has been released investigated the design process and transformation of the library. Check it out below:

[seeking--the--essential]

The beautifully renovated Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library, Washington DC

Mies van der Rohe’s last building and his only library and building in DC. A $211m modernization of the original 1972 building was completed in 2020 led by a design team comprised of the Dutch firm Mecanoo and local DC firm OTJ Architects.