Hunters Point Library

Hunters Point Library

Featuring a Stunning Design, Views and Prominent Location on the Long Island City Waterfront, Hunters Point Is Queens Public Library’s First New Branch  To Open Since 2007

The 22,000-square-foot building is 82 feet high and oriented vertically, with interior stairs that rise from an open-spaced entry through six levels up to a rooftop bleacher-style seating and reading area. The building’s concrete shell is load-bearing to allow for a large open atrium in the interior, with cantilevered floors extending from the ends of the building containing adult, teen and children’s reading areas, as well as a cyber center and a ground floor meeting room that can seat up to 140 people.

The concrete structure of the building is exposed and aluminum painted, giving the exterior a subtle sparkle. Inside, warm bamboo creates an inviting social space, open to the community and offers engaging spaces for all ages. Natural light enters through the large irregularly shaped glass cut-outs in the sides of the building offering spectacular views of the East River, the United Nations and the east side of Manhattan on one side and the growing community of Long Island City on the other. The project also includes a separate structure for New York State Parks staff, plus landscaping along North 47th Road adjacent to the site. The building is located on a redeveloped brownfield site and is designed to achieve LEED Silver certification for environmental sustainability.

“Hunters Point now has a library that matches the vibrancy of the community. With an early childhood play area, environmental center, and books in many languages, it will serve as a resource for generations to come,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Located on the banks of the East River with a stunning view of the Manhattan skyline the mesmerizing building holds more than 50,000 books, including both Spanish and Chinese collections. Overall, the space kind of looks like if an Apple store and an Ikea had a baby, and that baby was then rich enough to afford waterfront real estate in New York. And what a space it is! Visitors to the public building will find an art installation by Julianne Swartz, designer furniture by Eames