Woodridge Neighborhood Library in Ward 5, located at 1801 Hamlin St in NE Washington, reopened on September 28, 2016 after a three-year closure and a $16 million renovation. The new library features 20,000 square feet spread over three stories and was number 16 on a list of 20 libraries being renovated in Washington, DC.
In addition to meeting rooms, there’s a seating area for 200 visitors, 40,000 books, CDs, and DVDs, and 40 computes with high-speed internet. Blue Skye Construction provided construction management services and worked with interns to create the new library for Ward 5.
James Jones, the assistant project manager for Blue Skye Construction, says that the renovations provide lots of natural light and views. “I believe the library just enhances what is already present in the neighborhood but provides new perspectives to view it from while also providing a place to continue helping the community to learn, grow, and flourish together.”
The library’s new design is also eco-friendly and maintains a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification. Woodridge Neighborhood Library is the first library in DC to have a green roof terrace, which helps the building stay cooler in the summer.
Blue Skye Construction handled the construction of the library. Partnered with Coakley Williams, Inc., the teams worked together to build the library through the mentor-protégé program, which pairs smaller businesses with larger ones to get smaller companies more involved in government-contracted work.
Students from the Phelps Academy of Engineering in Northeast DC, which is part of the National Academy Foundation (NAF), got to be involved in the construction of the library. Phelps implements Project Lead the Way (PLTW), which is the nation’s leading provider of STEM programs.
An internship created by Friends of the Woodridge Library helped the library and Phelps Academy get students involved in this project, which, to Library President Sharon Turner, further demonstrates the sense of community people have in Ward 5 to support one another.
Jones from Blue Skye Construction managed and supervised the students’ work. “It was also gratifying to see them get hands on and successfully completing the same daily tasks and assignments as the project team in the office or field. Being able to witness their growth and hearing their plans to use their experiences they gained through the internship during their next school year was also rewarding.”
The Ward 5 community can now enjoy this beautiful new library whether they want to check out a book, movies, take classes, or use computers. Blue Skye Construction was proud to be a part of this project and work with the Phelps Academy students!