The recently opened Queens Public Library at Hunters Point forgoes the recent trend of incorporating libraries into high-end residential towers and instead opts to stand independently on its 32,000 sf site along the East River.
Designed by Steven Holl Architects, the Hunters Point Libraryās facade consists of exposed concrete and painted aluminum stamped with large amorphous windows to let in natural light. The glazed cuts in the facade also provide users with views towards the river and the city as they move up a series of bookshelf flanked stairs.
Ā
Ā© Steven Holl Architects
Ā
The buildingās interior uses bamboo as a building material to create a warm, inviting social space for the community. The childrenās area, teen area, and adult area can be clearly seen from the exterior of the building in the cuts of the east face of the building; there is one facade opening for each area, but inside the programmatic divisions are fluid. The building section is open and flowing to allow for the most energy-efficient design and the greatest amount of public green space on the site.
Ā
Ā© Paul Warchol.
Ā
There are also two reading gardens on site: one on the east entrance side of the building that is bordered by a low park office pavilion, and one on the buildingās roof that offers panoramic views of the city.
The Hunters Point Library is located at 47-40 Center Boulevard in Long Island City, N.Y. and is open Monday through Saturday.
Related Stories
Libraries | Jan 26, 2016
SnĆøhetta designs research library at Temple University
The firm emphasized collaborative spaces, but the library will have room for plenty of books as well.
| Jan 14, 2016
How to succeed with EIFS: exterior insulation and finish systems
This AIA CES Discovery course discusses the six elements of an EIFS wall assembly; common EIFS failures and how to prevent them; and EIFS and sustainability.
Libraries | Aug 27, 2015
Barack Obama Foundation begins search for presidential library architect
Both national and foreign firms will compete for chance to design theĀ Chicago-based Presidential Center.
Libraries | Apr 29, 2015
Designs for earthquake-resistant New Central Library in New Zealand unveiled
The Danish firm Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects won the competition to design the New Central Library in Christchurch, New Zealand, which will replace the old building damaged by devastating earthquakes in 2010 and 2011.
Cultural Facilities | Apr 7, 2015
Miesā Martin Luther King Jr. Library to get makeover
The architects say the modernization aims to improve āMies in a contemporary Miesian way.ā
Libraries | Apr 2, 2015
6 award-winning libraries showcase next-gen design strategies
The new Cedar Rapids Public Library and the restored Slover Library in Norfolk, Va., are among six breakthrough projects honored with 2015 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards.
Sponsored | Cladding and Facade Systems | Mar 24, 2015
Designers turn a struggling mall into a hub of learning and recreation
Architects help Nashville government transformĀ a struggling mall into a new community space.
Retail Centers | Mar 10, 2015
Retrofit projects give dying malls new purpose
Approximately one-third of the countryās 1,200 enclosed malls are dead or dying. The good news is that a sizable portion of that building stock is being repurposed.
| Jan 2, 2015
Construction put in place enjoyed healthy gains in 2014
Construction consultant FMI foreseesāwith some caveatsācontinuing growth in the office, lodging, and manufacturing sectors. But funding uncertainties raise red flags in education and healthcare.
| Dec 29, 2014
Spherical reflectors help spread daylight throughout a college library in Portland, Ore. [BD+C's 2014 Great Solutions Report]
The 40,000-sf library is equipped with four ācones of light,ā spherical reflectors made from extruded aluminum that distribute daylight from the libraryās third floor to illuminate the second. The innovation was named a 2014 Great Solution by the editors of Building Design+Construction.
