The Carnegie Library at Mount Vernon Square in Washington, D.C., has been integral to the local history. The elaborately embellished Beau-Arts-style structure opened in 1903 after a generous donation from famous philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who once pledged funds to 2,500+ libraries around the world. This was the first Carnegie Library in D.C. and the District’s first desegregated public building. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as “Central Public Library” in 1969. After 70 years, the library moved to another location due to overcrowding.

In 2016, Apple began a two-year extensive $30-million restoration of the historic 1903 building. The restoration included the reconstruction and revitalization of the central public library, a commercial retail space, a new grand staircase, removal of later additions, and repair of the facade. F&R provided special inspections services in support of this extensive restoration effort.

Apple’s plans called for installing pedestrian bridges and a skylight on one of the building’s upper levels. Many of the library’s original decorative features were preserved and renovated, as were large parts of the flooring, some of the internal staircases, and some of the ceilings.

F&R performed special inspection services throughout this project, which included concrete and rebar inspections, bearing grade observations, drilled shafts for micro piles, post-tension inspections, fireproofing inspections, and structural steel inspections. At the beginning of the project, F&R performed bearing grade observations in the sub-basement level at the foundation, where improvements were being made. Initially, the subgrade did not meet the specified bearing requirement, and F&R worked closely with the Geotechnical Engineer-of-Record to help get past this issue.