MLK Jr. Branch Design Competition Finals to Be Held May 10

Cleveland Public Library’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch design competition finals will be held Thursday, May 10 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch. This free, public event will feature presentations and Q&A sessions with the three finalists proposing architectural designs for a new branch facility.

In February, Cleveland Public Library selected three design teams from an application pool of 31 firms as finalists for this competition. Finalists include MASS Design Group and LDA Architects; SO-IL and JKURTZ Architects; and Bialosky Cleveland and Vines Architecture.

Each firm will offer a presentation of approximately 30 minutes followed by a 15-minute Q&A session. Audience members are invited to provide written or oral feedback on the designs, which will be shared with the Selection and Advisory Committees. The winning design will be announced at a later date.

The design competition finals will be held at the current Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch located at 1962 Stoke Boulevard on May 10. The presentation schedule is as follows:

5:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.: MASS Design Group and LDA Architects

5:50 p.m. – 6:35 p.m.: SO-IL and JKURTZ Architects

6:40 p.m. – 7:25 p.m.: Bialosky Cleveland and Vines Architecture

Branch Vision and History

Cleveland Public Library constructed the current Martin Luther King, Jr. branch in 1970 to serve the University Circle community. From the start, this branch stood as a symbol of Dr. King’s legacy and as a place to honor diversity.

When a unique set of circumstances in University Circle presented Cleveland Public Library with the opportunity to enhance its services to those who live, work, and study in this rapidly changing and growing neighborhood, the Library set out to re-envision the branch’s physical space and presence within the community. Ultimately, Cleveland Public Library seeks to create an iconic building with state-of-the-art facilities that will continue to respect Dr. King’s work and serve as a symbol of equality and justice.

The Library elected to host a design competition, which is supported by the Cleveland Foundation through a $93,000 grant, to attract a diverse range of talent and innovative design concepts.

To learn more about the finalists and the competition, please read “Cleveland Public Library Picks Three Finalists in MLK Branch Design Competition.”