While in Washington DC last week for the AIA National Convention I visited the M.L. King Public Library. This is one of Mies van der Rohe's last buildings and it was plagued with ill-advised "value engineering" from the outset. Because of it's poor condition there is a debate regarding demolishing the building and replacing it with a new structure. Mies' buildings are indeed difficult to maintain in pristine form, but clearly if it was restored properly this structure could take it's rightful place among DC's architectural treasures. Krueck + Sexton's masterful restorations of Crown Hall and 860-880 Lakeshore Drive show the potential beauty of this neglected gem.
