Snøhetta has recently unveiled designs for a new 12,000-square-foot library project in the Bronx’s Westchester Square it says will expand on the diverse neighborhood’s lineage as a “place where knowledge is acquired and shared for generations to come.”

The new building for the New York Public Library (NYPL) branch is sited next to the historic 131-year-old Huntington Free Library, will come wrapped in a pastoral print fritted glass facade in reference to the Bronx’s status as NYC’s greenest borough and target a LEED Platinum certification through an environmental strategy that includes an array of solar panels, rainwater recycling, a high-performance envelope, and slate of energy conservation measures.

Its two-story interior is organized around a need for natural light in educational spaces and the desire to frame a street-level exterior Viewing Garden that serves as a “counterpoint to the surrounding urban landscape” while adding “visual interest to the indoor experience.”

A sculptural installation by artist Shawn Smith, enabled through the Department of Cultural Affairs’ Percent For Art initiative, highlights the programming and mission of the library. The commission came through the firm’s involvement as the on-call architects for the city’s Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Project Excellence Program and follows a soon-to-open design for the Far Rockaway Writer’s Library in Queens and other projects.

“Snøhetta is proud to have worked with DDC on a collection of transformative projects across New York City, from the reconstruction of Times Square to the creation of new branch libraries in Far Rockaway, and now, Westchester Square in the Bronx,” founding Partner Craig Dykers said in a statement. “Over the last 12 years, our team of architects, landscape architects, and interior architects has worked with DDC to enrich the social vitality of local communities through thoughtful designs that will stand the test of time.” 

Construction is expected to start at an unspecified date sometime between mid-to-late 2023.