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Hunters Point Library

Queens, NY, United States

Located on a prominent site along the East River, against the backdrop of rapidly built skyscraper condominiums, the 22,000 square foot Queens Public Library at Hunters Point stands as a public building and public park, bringing community-devoted space to the Long Island City waterfront.

Resisting recent trends of incorporating public libraries and much-needed social space within high-end residential towers, the Library stands independently, rising with a minimal footprint on its 32,000 square foot site to offer maximum surrounding green space to the local community and becoming an integrated part of the vibrant public park that lines the river’s edge.

The vertical structure reimagines the traditional library model, providing diversity of spaces from intimate reading areas to active gathering spaces. The building’s aluminum-painted concrete shell is not just a facade but a load-bearing structure, which omits curtain walls and columns. Sculpted cuts are carved out of the facade, showing the movement of people within and framing expansive views of the Manhattan skyline.

The program’s separation into children’s area, teen area and adult area can be read in the sculpted cuts of the east face of the building, one facade opening for each area; yet the programmatic divisions are fluid. Inside, warm bamboo creates an inviting social space, open to the community and offering engaging spaces for all ages. Natural light enters through the large windows from all sides, animating the space.

“It is an honor to imagine and realize this Community Library, a free open public building where people can interact across generations.   We hope it is a gift to this great city and its future children.”

Steven Holl

The digital and the book are merged through the bookshelves and adjacent digital workstations that flow upward in open circulation. A ground-level auditorium under the main section provides public meeting and events space. Connected reading areas switch back from mezzanine to mezzanine and conclude in a rooftop reading terrace with views of the city and the river.

At night the glowing presence of the Hunters Point Library along the waterfront joins the Pepsi sign and the “Long Island” sign at the old Gantry to become a beacon for this new community place.

Client
Queens Public Library and the New York City Department of Design and Construction
Location
Queens, NY, United States
Years
2010–2019
Size
22,000 sq ft
Status
Complete
architect
Steven Holl Architects
Steven Holl (design architect, principal)
Chris McVoy (senior partner in charge)
Olaf Schmidt (senior associate in charge)
Filipe Taboada (project architect, associate)
Suk Lee (project architect, construction administration)
Bell Ying Yi Cai, Rychiee Espinosa, JongSeo Lee, Maki Matsubayashi, Michael Rusch, Dominik Sigg, Yasmin Vobis, Jeanne Wellinger (project team)
landscape architect
Michael Van Valkenburgh and Associates

structural engineer
Silman

MEP engineer
ICOR Associates

lighting design
L'Observatoire International

LEED consultant
ADS Engineers

civil engineer
Langan Engineering & Environmental Services

fire technical consultant
Rolf Jensen & Assoc.

cost estimator
Davis Langdon

specifications
Construction Specifications Inc.

climate engineers
Transsolar

Timeline

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