New York Public Library Central Library Plan
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, 476 Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018
Foster + Partners proposed a four-level circulating library in space occupied by historic stacks, with affected volumes moved to off-site storage. After sustained opposition and review of the plan's feasibility and cost, NYPL announced a different renovation strategy on May 7, 2014.
What got built
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What changed
- The plan proposed removing seven levels of historic book stacks beneath the Main Reading Room and relocating affected volumes to off-site storage.
- Foster + Partners designed a four-level, glass-walled circulating library, computer center, and cafe for the vacated stack space.
- The renovation was initially described at roughly $300 million; contemporary reporting later discussed a broader estimate of about $500 million.
- Scholars, writers, and preservation groups organized opposition, including litigation aimed at stopping the plan.
- Bill de Blasio, who publicly opposed the plan during his campaign, was elected mayor in November 2013.
- On May 7, 2014, NYPL announced that it would not proceed with the Central Library Plan and would pursue a different renovation strategy.
Why it changed
NYPL's May 7, 2014 announcement cited further study of feasibility and cost and adopted a different renovation approach. The decision also followed sustained public opposition. Bill de Blasio had opposed the plan, but the sources reviewed do not establish his election as the sole cause of cancellation.
Details
- Status
- Abandoned. None of the design was built.
- Where
- New York, NY
- Neighborhood
- Midtown Manhattan
- Developer
- New York Public Library
- Architect
- Foster + Partners
- Rendering credit
- dbox, courtesy of Foster + Partners
- The built result
- Photographed by foxbert, 2013-08-03
Sources
- ArchDaily: Foster + Partners' NYPL Redesign in State of Limbo archdaily.com
- The Architect's Newspaper: NYPL Closes the Book on Foster + Partners Plan archpaper.com
- Hyperallergic: NY Public Library Drops Controversial Makeover hyperallergic.com
- New York Public Library: revised central-library renovation plans (May 7, 2014) nypl.org
Research checked . Status and figures are updated when a source changes.
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