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.


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)

Timeline
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Hunters Point Queens Public Library aglow in sunset light
February 6, 2024
The Hunters Point Library receives First Prize for this year’s International Urban Project Award (IUPA).
November 1, 2020
“The Pride of Queens”
May 1, 2020
ON THE COVER: Architectural Record, “Steven Holl’s Queens Library: The Little Library That Could”
November 13, 2019
HUNTERS POINT LIBRARY OPENS TO THE PUBLIC
September 24, 2019
The New York Times, “Why Can’t New York City Build More Gems Like This Queens Library?”
September 18, 2019
Hon. Jimmy Van Bramer Moderates a Conversation with Steven Holl Architects and The Noguchi Museum
May 4, 2017
New Hunters Point Community Library Celebrates Topping Out
September 29, 2016
Construction Update: Hunters Point Community Library
June 17, 2016
Steven Holl-Designed Hunters Point Library Rises On The Long Island City Waterfront
March 21, 2016
Steven Holl Architects’ Queens Library receives a 2010 Award for Excellence in Design
June 20, 2011
Steven Holl Architects Chosen to Design the New Queens Library at Hunters Point
July 29, 2010