Whether you're in the dreaming and planning stages or further along the design road, you'll find ideas, information, and inspiration, no matter what your budget allows!    

Hosted by Library Journal  in partnership with DC Public Library, this installment of our library building and design event will bring you the latest trends in library design. Dig deep with architects, librarians, and vendors to explore building/renovating/retrofitting spaces both large and small that will redefine the relationship with your users and engage your community.    

This full-day think tank provides expert panel discussions with architects and librarians, as well as hands-on, architect-led breakout sessions dealing with real-life design challenges submitted in advance by you and your fellow attendees.    

The Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library is District of Columbia Public Library's main location in downtown Washington, DC.  

The $211 million renovation was completed in 2020 through a collaboration between Mecanoo Architecten and OTJ Architects. The original glass and steel building, completed in 1972, is the only library designed by modernist architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and was designated a historic landmark in 2007. The modernization took 10 years from concept to ribbon-cutting, and has been inventively reimagined to better serve today’s users while respecting its original design. 

Completed in September 2020, the transformed library connects four existing lower floors to a new fifth floor and rooftop garden with bold staircases and clear wayfinding, making the building easier to navigate. While it still supports traditional library services, the library now features a striking, transparent entryway; auditorium and conference center; makerspace, double-height reading room; ground-level indoor/outdoor café; and a children’s library with a whimsical multi-level slide. 

The renovation is LEED Gold certified, reflecting a strong focus on sustainability and environmentally responsible design. 

Click here to learn more about these exciting renovations!

This event is open to librarians, library board or foundation members, and the library’s city planners/officials. If you are an architect or vendor and would like to sponsor one of our 2026 Design Institute events, please contact Advertising Director Roy Futterman: rfutterman@mediasourceinc.com  

By registering for this event, you are agreeing that Library Journal/School Library Journal may share your registration information with currently shown and future sponsors of this event. Click here to review our full Privacy Policy.  

Click here to see the 2026 Design Institute cancellation policy.

Want to see what this event is all about? Check out last year's program here!

Tuesday, May 19th 

9:00 - 9:30 AM | Registration & Breakfast

9:30 - 9:40 AM | Welcome 

Hallie Rich, Editor in Chief, Library Journal

Richard Reyes-Gavilan, Executive Director, DC Public Library

9:40 - 10:35 AM | Flex & Function: Navigating the New Library Ecosystem

The modern library is evolving from a static repository into a dynamic community anchor where holistic wellness and radical adaptability serve as the primary design drivers. In this panel, designers will share examples from projects that integrate sensory-rich environments, nature connections, and modular zones into libraries that support diverse social comfort levels. As libraries transform into essential places of respite for neurodiverse users and digital-native generations, this expanded ecosystem challenges traditional assumptions of library silence and "fixed vision" architecture with programming which now encompasses everything from hydroponic urban farms and esports labs to co-located food banks. Panelists will share how leaders can champion versatile design through creative real-estate strategies and operational flexibility—ensuring libraries remain equitable and responsive to evolving community needs.

Panelists:
Chuck Wray, Quinn Evans
Jeff Hoover, Tappe
Tomas Eliaeson, Little
Moderator: Maryann James-Daley, Director, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library 

10:35 - 10:45 AM | Industry Spotlight-Demco

10:45 – 10:55 AM | Break 

10:55 - 11:50 AM | The Shared Fabric: Libraries by Co-Creation

This panel explores the transformative power of community co-creation in library design, moving beyond traditional outreach to foster deep local ownership and shared vision. By "leading from behind" and meeting people in their own spaces, library leaders can cultivate trust and ensure that diverse voices—from youth to underrepresented groups—shape the future of their civic institutions. Panelists will discuss the ways in which library programming and services must drive design, balancing modern aspirations with an authentic reflection of a community's identity so that patrons feel a profound sense of belonging. In this panel, we’ll explore project examples that illustrate libraries as essential civic safety nets and shared fabrics that strengthen social connections, creating "zero-barrier" spaces where people can truly thrive.

Panelists:
Chuck Wray, Quinn Evans
Erica Fredricksen, HGA
Jeff Hoover, Tappe
Moderator: Monique McSween, Director, Customer Experience

11:50 - 12:50 PM | Lunch 

12:50 – 1:00 PM | Industry Spotlight-Stackmap

1:00 - 1:55 PM | Kinetic Commons: Reimagining the Library as a Journey of Discovery

Panelists will explore how modern libraries are evolving into vibrant, porous hubs that prioritize joy, movement, and radical inclusion. They will dive into the power of "experiential circulation"—using monumental stairs, light-filled paths, and playful elements like slides to build children's confidence and autonomy. We’ll discuss how to weave psychological safety and accessibility into the architectural fabric, creating sensory-aware "nooks" that welcome both introverted and extroverted visitors without segregation. Beyond the walls, our experts will showcase how biophilic design and seamless indoor-outdoor transitions turn libraries into restorative civic anchors. From co-locating with transit nodes to embedding local identity through community-led art, discover how we are reimagining the library as a flexible, intergenerational engine for discovery and connection.

Emily Jelinek, HGA
Antonio Rebelo, Grimm + Parker
Craig Williams, Becker Morgan
Moderator: Mars Eagleson, Project Manager, Capital Planning and Construction

2:00 - 3:40 PM | Architect-Led Breakout Sessions Featuring Real-Life Design Challenges  

3:40 – 3:50 | Break 

3:50 – 4:00 Industry Spotlight-Cultural Surroundings

4:05 - 5:00 PM | Blueprint for Renewal: Sustainability as a Civic Principle

This panel explores the evolving role of the modern library as a vital "first restorer" in the civic landscape, moving beyond climate readiness to address public health, technological access, and social stability. By examining the library as a resilience hub, panelists will discuss the critical distinction between designing infrastructure and the operational reality of activating it during a crisis—highlighting practical features like self-contained "micro-climate" zones and FEMA-compatible power systems. The conversation bridges the gap between high-level sustainability ideals and practical execution through adaptive reuse. Panelists will explore how to translate "Net Zero" goals into feasible realities for diverse budgets and smaller communities. Furthermore, the session delves into restorative design, utilizing biophilia and neuroscience to create wellness-focused spaces that balance beauty with the 50-year durability required for heavy public use. From "doable" maintenance to seamless user experiences that mask technical complexity, this discussion challenges architects and library leaders to champion sustainability as a core civic principle that ensures buildings remain functional, restorative, and relevant for generations.

Panelists:

Julia Crawford, Grimm + Parker
Craig Williams, Becker Morgan
Lindsey Piant Perez, Little
Moderator: Jaspreet Pahwa, Director of Capital Planning and Construction, DCPL

5:00 PM | Wrap Up 

5:10 - 6:10 PM | Reception

ARCHITECT SPONSORS

If you are an architect or vendor and would like to sponsor one of our 2026 Design Institute events, please contact Advertising Director Roy Futterman: rfutterman@mediasourceinc.com 

"This was an extremely eye-opening experience to be amongst peer library colleagues with similar interests to engage in conversations about funding, budgeting, design and what works and doesn't. The tours were fascinating and I left with a newfound eye for architectural detail."

-N. Garmer, Associate Dean of Libraries

"LJ Design Institute was very insightful in helping me appreciate the many different ways to address how to go about a redesign or remodel to try reconciling the many competing elements of a project." 

-T. Henderson, Library Director

"The Design Institute Conference was the perfect event for anyone just getting started with a redesign or new design for a library. I was inspired by all of the input from other librarians and architect professionals. It was great to hear about library design trends, the do's and don'ts, and personal experiences of others."

-B. Arriola, Associate Librarian