Work Begins on Steven Holl's Hunters Point Library in Queens

Construction has commenced on Steven Holl Architects' Hunters Point Community Library in Queens, New York. Rising along the shoreline on the city's East River near a cluster of newly built high-rise condominiums, the 22,000 square-foot (6,705 meter) library aims to provide a community-centric public space and park to the increasingly privatized Long Island City waterfront.

Work Begins on Steven Holl's Hunters Point Library in Queens - Waterfront, CityscapeWork Begins on Steven Holl's Hunters Point Library in Queens - CityscapeWork Begins on Steven Holl's Hunters Point Library in Queens - FacadeWork Begins on Steven Holl's Hunters Point Library in Queens - Image 5 of 14Work Begins on Steven Holl's Hunters Point Library in Queens - More Images+ 9

Work Begins on Steven Holl's Hunters Point Library in Queens - Image 6 of 14
© Steven Holl Architects

From the architects: The concrete structure of the building is exposed and aluminum painted, giving the exterior a subtle sparkle. A golden-section upturned rectangle is carved out according to the browsing circuit of movement within the interior of library. Glazed cuts in the façade grant users views toward the city as they move up a series of bookshelf flanked stairs. The main Manhattan view, perpendicular to the internal movement of the library, gives visitors to this small space a dramatic experience.

Work Begins on Steven Holl's Hunters Point Library in Queens - Waterfront, Cityscape
© Steven Holl Architects
Work Begins on Steven Holl's Hunters Point Library in Queens - Facade
© Steven Holl Architects

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 façade opening for each area; yet the programmatic divisions are fluid. While the plan is compact, the building section of the new library is open and flowing allowing for the most energy-efficient design and the greatest amount of public green space on the site.

Work Begins on Steven Holl's Hunters Point Library in Queens - Image 12 of 14
Watercolor. Image © Steven Holl Architects

On the east entrance side, the library faces a reading garden bordered by a low park office pavilion with a bosque of ginko trees. Ascending the stair inside visitors can reach the rooftop reading garden with panoramic views of the city.

At night the glowing presence of the new 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. 

Work Begins on Steven Holl's Hunters Point Library in Queens - Image 13 of 14
Watercolor. Image © Steven Holl Architects

The library will be completed in 2017.

In celebration of the groundbreaking, an exhibition chronicling the design process of this new civic building and public park has opened at Sculpture Center in Long Island City, Queens and online at www.stevenholl.com/online-exhibition.

  • Architects

  • Location

    Queens, NY, United States
  • Design Architects

    Steven Holl, Chris McVoy
  • Senior Partner In Charge

    Chris McVoy
  • Associate in Charge

    Olaf Schmidt
  • Project Architect

    Filipe Taboada
  • Project Team

    Bell Ying Yi Cai, Rychiee Espinosa, JongSeo Lee, Maki Matsubayashi, Michael Rusch, Dominik Sigg, Yasmin Vobis, Jeanne Wellinger
  • Client

    New York City Department of Design and Construction, Queens Library
  • Landscape Architects

    Michael Van Valkenburgh and Associates
  • Structural Engineer

    Robert Silman Associates
  • MEP Engineer

    ICOR Associates
  • Lighting Design

    L'Observatoire International
  • LEED Consultant

    ADS Engineers
  • Code Consultant

    Irene Joyce Berzak-Schoen
  • Civil Engineer

    Langan Engineering & Environmental Services
  • Fire Technical Consultant

    Rolf Jensen & Assoc.
  • Cost Estimator

    Davis Langdon
  • Specifications

    Construction Specifications Inc.
  • Climate Engineers

    Transsolar
  • Area

    22000.0 ft2
  • Project Year

    2017
  • Photographs

    Steven Holl Architects
  • Location

    Queens, NY, USA
  • Project Year

    2017
  • Photographs

  • Area

    22000.0 ft2

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Project location

Address:Queens, NY, United States

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Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
About this office
Cite: Karissa Rosenfield. "Work Begins on Steven Holl's Hunters Point Library in Queens" 19 May 2015. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/633001/work-begins-on-steven-holl-s-hunters-point-library-in-queens> ISSN 0719-8884

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