World-renowned Dutch studio Mecanoo has first images to overhaul the New York Public Library's iconic Stephen A. Schwarzman beaux-arts building on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, which will be developed as part of a large master plan. The $317 million masterplan for the historic Midtown building on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street will increase approximately 20% in public space for research, exhibitions, and educational programs and the renovation of the building will provide a vastly improved visitor experience.

Mecanoo, led by Francine Houben, is closely working with the local firm Beyer Blinder Belle, a New York City-based firm known for its work on historic buildings, led by Elizabeth Leber. Mecanoo and Beyer Blinder Belle are also leading the renovation of Mid-Manhattan Library, the Library’s largest circulating branch, located across Fifth Avenue. It is scheduled to reopen as the completely renovated Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library in early 2020.

The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building - new exhibition spaces

The iconic Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is one of the nation’s leading research libraries, which for over a century has stood as a symbol of open and free access to information and opportunity. The overall masterplan will be developed in two phases - with private funds - for future investment beginning in 2018 and continuing through 2021. 

The proposed plans will tackle the transformation of former staff or storage spaces into public spaces for research, exhibitions, and educational programs. The long-underutilized, historic spaces for research and programs - including the new Lenox and Astor Room - will be improved, enlarged and enhanced with additional features. 

The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building - new Lenox and Astor Room will house books and artwork by Brooke Astor

The architects will add a much-needed entrance on 40th Street with a plaza and new elevator bank to ease congestion throughout the building. They will also add an improved patron experience with new bathrooms and improved and modernized infrastructure, including a café and expanded shop.

The plans will include a new Center for Research and Learning that will introduce high school and university students to the array of collections and uses of the research library. A new permanent but rotating exhibition of NYPL will explore treasures in the library’s Gottesman Hall.

"We have developed a Master Plan that inherently adheres to the logic of a Beaux-Arts building," said Mecanoo’s Francine Houben. 

"Our changes are both subtle and clever—to direct the flow for different user groups, for example, or to improve the quality and function of currently underused spaces."

These elements will prepare the library for the future while maintaining the building’s architectural integrity and complementing existing historic spaces such as the landmarked Rose Main Reading Room, the Maps, Periodicals, and Genealogy reading rooms, and Astor Hall.

"The Master Plan builds on the framework of this historic building and icon of New York City architecture," said Beyer Blinder Belle’s Elizabeth Leber.

"We are seeking to instill clarity and ease of circulation, and to support new uses and programs, while only enhancing its significant architectural features."

"Mecanoo and Beyer Blinder Belle developed the Master Plan utilizing feedback from a variety of stakeholders, including a Trustees working group, staff, researchers and scholars, and members of the public via meetings, surveys, and smaller group discussions," stated in a press release of NYPL.

The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building - the new 40th Street entrance will lead to the Center for Research and Learning

While the Master Plan does not include a definitive plan for the central stacks—seven floors of shelving built with the library in 1911—the Library also announced at the Board meeting that it has commissioned Mecanoo and Beyer Blinder Belle to do a study examining possibilities for the 175,000-square-foot space. 

The stacks are currently housing circulating books while Mid-Manhattan Library is closed for renovation, but are no longer fit to hold research materials as originally intended for preservation reasons: the space lets in natural light and does not meet acceptable standards for temperature, humidity, and fire safety. 

The purpose of the study is to evaluate the current state of the stacks, and then—with input from a broad range of stakeholders, including staff, architects, and a group of non-Library advisors and planners—to identify a series of potential options for the space. Once those possible scenarios are identified, the public will have the opportunity to provide feedback. 

Mecanoo recently released its winning proposal for Shenzhen North Station, featuring 12 staggering skyscrapers. The studio was also selected to renovate Perth City Hall in UK. The category B-listed building will be transformed into a cultural facility with exhibition spaces, learning suite, café and retail space. 

Top image: The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building - new entrance on 40th Street, near Fifth Avenue

> via Mecanoo / New York Public Library