Designs for a new 12,000 square foot branch library in the Westchester Square district of The Bronx, New York City, were unveiled by Snøhetta, the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC), and the New York Public Library (NYPL). The energy-efficient structure will be covered in fritted glass with a pastoral print to distinguish it as a significant economic and educational hub in the neighbourhood. The design was inspired by the lush surroundings. It is predicted that work on the new Library will begin in the middle to end of 2023.
The new Westchester Square branch will continue the site's tradition as a location where information is acquired and shared for future generations. The project will be situated next to the historic Huntington Free Library, a non-circulating library that was founded four years before NYPL. Two classrooms, reading rooms, a multipurpose communal area, restrooms, and more public research spaces are all included in the two-story building. The upper floor of the Library will host a vibrant assembly by Austin, Texas-based artist Shawn Smith thanks to a comprehensive art programme.
The Library's glass facades were created as a prismatic reading room placed on a board-formed concrete basis and were inspired by The Bronx's reputation as the "greenest Borough of New York City." The design is calibrated to frame the surrounding blocks and to screen sunlight as part of a comprehensive attempt to reduce the energy use of the Library. It also visually relates to the flora of The Bronx. The Library will gleam at night, displaying images of The Bronx's lush tree canopies.
The new Library, which is aiming for LEED Platinum certification, will have a solar array and a high-performance envelope design that will help it reduce its need for electricity from the region's vital energy infrastructure during peak times. Additionally, funding has been provided by the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), which will help the Library serve as a test site for its 80x50 effort, which aims to cut carbon emissions in the city by 80% by 2050.
Following the construction of the new Far Rockaway Writer's Library in Queens, which is scheduled to open in 2023, the new Westchester Square Library is the most recent library designed by Snøhetta in New York City.