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Last Friday, Brooklyn Public Library officially broke ground on a brand-new Canarsie branch on Rockaway Parkway and the newly released renderings are a masterclass in good library architecture. The two-story, 11,000-square-foot building will double the existing library's public space and stand out as one of New York City’s first public buildings constructed with mass timber, a sustainable, low-carbon approach that also happens to look gorgeous.
Designed by Studio Joseph, the new library will be both warm and open. Patrons will enter through a dramatic, light-flooded facade that’s meant to appear as a neighborhood beacon after dark. Inside, exposed timber, generous daylight and clean sightlines feel calm, modern and genuinely welcoming instead of institutional.
“Today we mark another important step toward providing Canarsie with a modern light-filled library with space for all to read, learn and explore new interests and career paths,” said Linda E. Johnson, president and CEO of Brooklyn Public Library, in a release. “I extend my sincerest thanks to our elected leaders for helping us to build a library both for the books it will hold and the dreams they are sure to inspire.”
Those dreams were baked directly into the design. Before drawing a single line, BPL and Studio Joseph spent months engaging hundreds of residents, patrons and community groups. The result is a library that reflects how Canarsie actually uses its public spaces versus how planners think it should.
“This library has always been a special place for families in Canarsie, including my own,” said Council Member Mercedes Narcisse. “I can’t wait to walk through the doors of the new library and see families, students and my neighbors enjoying this beautiful space.”
The new layout includes dedicated areas for adults, teens and children (along with stroller parking), a flexible meeting room for up to 50 people, a public recording studio, a maker space and an outdoor terrace. Behind the scenes, the building will feature all-new mechanical systems, solar panels and on-site stormwater management.
“The building is transparent by day and a lantern by night—and an open invitation for education and social bonding,” explained Wendy Joseph, principal at Studio Joseph.
Construction is being overseen by Shawmut Design and Construction, with completion expected after the current branch closure. In the meantime, patrons can visit any of BPL’s 62 locations, including Jamaica Bay Library, just under a mile away.
Judging by these renderings, the wait will be worth it.