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Rego Park’s library is finally getting the glow-up locals have been waiting decades for—and the first renderings suggest it’ll be worth their patience.
Construction is officially underway on a brand-new Rego Park branch of the Queens Public Library (QPL), replacing the aging one-story building at 91-41 63rd Drive with a $39 million, three-story facility that will more than double the current space. When it opens in late 2028, the new library will span 18,000 square feet, up from the existing 7,500, and bring a modern presence to one of the busiest corners of the borough.
The Rego Park branch consistently ranks among QPL’s most heavily used locations, leading the system in checkouts, visits and computer use, so that extra space matters. “Rego Park has grown and changed significantly since the current branch opened 50 years ago,” said Queens Public Library president and CEO Dennis M. Walcott at this week's groundbreaking.
The new layout is designed to spread the love across generations: there will be a lower-level multipurpose room and dedicated teen area; a ground-floor space focused on adult reading and resources; and a second-floor space devoted to kids, complete with a children’s zone and its own programming area.
Architecturally, this won’t be your average civic box. The building, designed by WEISS/MANFREDI under the city’s Design and Construction Excellence Program, features a jade-colored brick façade, tall windows and double-height reading rooms that draw daylight deep into the interior. A grand open staircase and an elevator connect all three floors. The idea is to make the building feel open rather than stacked.
Up top, there’s a low-maintenance green roof, part of a broader sustainability push that includes high-efficiency systems, stormwater retention and a tightly insulated envelope. The project is expected to meet LEED Silver standards when complete.
Inside, the library will also double as a work of art. As part of the city’s Percent for Art program, artist Katrin Sigurdardottir is creating The Fore, a 1,500-square-foot mural spread across three interior walls. Using a custom brick system inspired by halftone printing, the installation forms large-scale images of plants native to Queens, some of which the artist has foraged and used to make paper, a neat nod to the building’s purpose.
During construction, QPL will operate a mobile library on site every Thursday starting January 8, 2026. Nearby branches in Elmhurst, Forest Hills and North Forest Park will operate as usual. For a neighborhood that’s been asking for more library space since the ’90s, this one’s been a long time coming—and the renderings make it clear that the new digs will be a real community anchor.
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