Shaw (Watha T. Daniel) Library
The Shaw (Watha T. Daniel) Library, opened August 2010, was designed by Peter Cook, AIA, NOMA. The 2010 building replaced an earlier library building opened in 1975.
The three-level library is approximately 22,000 square feet and features a flexible design to provide inviting spaces for all.
It includes:
- Separate reading areas for adults, teens and children
- Children’s program room
- 40,000 books, DVDs, CDs and other library materials; designed for 80,000 items
- 32 public access computers with free Wi-Fi Internet access
- 8 Mac computers in the teen space
- Comfortable seating for 200 customers
- Large program room for up to 100 people
- Two 12-person conference rooms
- Vending area
Building Design Awards
The Library has received a number of awards for design excellence:
- Mid-Atlantic Construction Award of Merit, Cultural
- AIA DC Award for Merit & Presidential Citation for Sustainable Design 2010
- Urban Land Institute, Top 10 Buildings in Washington, DC 2010
- National Association of Contractors and Builders Proclamation Award 2010
- Developers & Builders Alliance Community Advancement Award, Best Developments of the Year, USA & Canada 2010
- Named by Wall Street Journal as one of the top buildings of 2010