Apple Carnegie Library is a winner at the 2020 American Architecture Awards

Apple Carnegie Library Store (Image credit: Apple)

What you need to know

Apple Carnegie Library has picked up an award for its architecture.
The store is a winner at the American Architecture Awards.
Foster + Partners was responsible for the store's architecture.

Apple has some of the most beautiful retail locations on the planet and one of them has won an award. Apple Carnegie Library is a winner at the 2020 American Architecture Awards.

We are delighted Apple Carnegie Library is a 'Winner' at this year’s American Architecture Awards. pic.twitter.com/7zkYOrPNxuWe are delighted Apple Carnegie Library is a 'Winner' at this year’s American Architecture Awards. pic.twitter.com/7zkYOrPNxu— Foster + Partners (@FosterPartners) October 8, 2020 October 8, 2020

Created by Foster + Partners, the store was originally a public library, hence the name, and it's immediately recognizable as something more than your average retail outlet.

Located at the heart of Washington DC, Apple Carnegie Library marks the revitalization of an important monument in the city's history. As the city's first public library and its first desegregated public building, the Carnegie Library of Washington DC played a central role in community life for over 70 years since its opening in 1903. After a period of neglect, Apple Carnegie Library continues the traditions of the building by creating a new platform for learning, performance, and art for a new generation.

The Apple Store opened in May 2019 and has been attracting attention ever since. It's also one of the last stores to have the input of former Apple design chief Jonny Ive.

Carnegie Library on Mount Vernon Square also features the new DC History Center, which includes the Kiplinger Research Library, three galleries and a museum store, all owned and operated by the 125-year-old Historical Society of Washington, D.C. To restore the building to its original grandeur, Apple worked with conservation experts to carefully preserve the historic facades, return interior spaces to their original footprints, and restore distinctive early 20th-century detailing. Foster + Partners worked in close collaboration with Apple's Chief Design Officer Jony Ive to give this cultural icon a new lease of life.

Apple is also keen to celebrate the store's heritage, holding events that include artists of all walks of life. The store's opening included a festival that included a weekend block party, no less.

For six weeks following opening, the StoryMaker Festival will bring together 40 artists, poets, activists, musicians, photographers, filmmakers, law makers and community builders to celebrate storytelling and inspire attendees to tell their own stories. The festival will conclude with a weekend block party to celebrate the stories the community has come together to share.

This is one of the most recognizable Apple Stores on the planet and it's great to see that being recognized within the architecture industry.

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too. Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.