Apple shares first official photos of Carnegie Library store in DC

Apple on Thursday previewed its Carnegie Library store in Washington, D.C., set to open on Saturday at 10 a.m., saying it will help the Library once again serve a public good despite much of it being turned into a private store.

The store represents Apple's "most extensive historic restoration project to date," the company said. The building was originally Washington's Central Public Library, funded and opened by Andrew Carnegie in 1903. Apple worked with conservation experts on preserving facades and details, and restoring interior spaces to their original dimensions. Apple's usual architectural firm, Foster + Partners, operated in conjunction with chief design officer Jony Ive.

"I love the synergy between old and new, the juxtaposition of the historic fabric and contemporary design," Ive said in a prepared statement.

The exterior has a revamped K Street plaza, as well as a new staircase on Mount Vernon Place. Lighting comes partly from a restored skylight.

The building hasn't been completely handed over to Apple. The iPhone maker will share space with the D.C. History Center, which includes the Kiplinger Research Library, three galleries, and a museum store. A new grand staircase connects to the Center on the second floor.

As previously announced the outlet will be holding a "StoryMakers Festival" between May 18 and June 29, consisting of Today at Apple sessions from 40 artists.

Development has been ongoing since 2016 and somewhat controversial for multiple reasons. Apple had to pay the building's owner, Events D.C., somewhere between $1 million and $2 million to cover losses versus prior usage. The company's arrival also meant the relocation of the Library's book collection, and despite Apple positioning its retail chain as "town squares," its events are ultimately focused on selling products.

16 Comments

Latko 7 Years · 398 comments

About 5 years ago

OK, merits - as this will undoubtedly put Tim & Joni between Michelangelo, Frank Lloyd Wright, Aga Khan and Le Corbusier. Subsequently, can we customers (who funded this all) now go on with our lives - and get to hear when MacPro, improved MacBook keyboards, smallbezel iPads, iOS DarkMode, smaller volumeHUD’s and 100’s of other things will be programmed ? It may be surprising to the Apple Board, but those are the things due that we funded in the first place and that’s where their primary responsibility is.

iOS_Guy80 5 Years · 905 comments

Latko said:

OK, merits and after positioning Tim & Joni between Michelangelo, Frank Lloyd Wright, Aga Khan and Le Corbusier, can we go on with our lives ? (and get to hear when the MacPro, new MacBook keyboards, iOS DarkMode, smaller volumeHUD’s and 100’s of other things due will be programmed ?)

And when the new hardware and software does come out there will be another fabulous building to sell them in.

SpamSandwich 19 Years · 32917 comments

“...robber baron Andrew Carnegie...”

Why make such a comment in a story about Apple? “Robber baron” is the view of a progressive hack. Carnegie was a businessman.

apple ][ 13 Years · 9225 comments

SpamSandwich said:

“...robber baron Andrew Carnegie...”

Why make such a comment in a story about Apple? “Robber baron” is the view of a progressive hack. Carnegie was a businessman.

I agree. Business practices and ethics were different back then. There was also very little in the way of rules and regulations.

If the person is so bad, then why open a store in a building bearing their name?

Should we refer to this store as the robber baron Apple Store?

spice-boy 8 Years · 1450 comments

SpamSandwich said:

“...robber baron Andrew Carnegie...”

Why make such a comment in a story about Apple? “Robber baron” is the view of a progressive hack. Carnegie was a businessman.

No, robber baron is exactly what Carnegie, Frick and your other gilded age heroes were. Unimaginable fortunes made with monopolies and no regards to the damage caused to society, the economy eventually lead to anti-trust laws. Poverty in America fortunately has not been as devastating as it was in that era, child labor, orphans living in the streets of big cities. So Ebenezer SpamSandwich get ready to meet your own Jacob Marley.