Facility Expected To Open In 2014
Queens Borough President Helen Marshall and City Council Member Daniel Dromm poured the last of the concrete for the foundation of the new Queens Library at Elmhurst last Wednesday, July 25, cheered on by members of the community.
“Future success is based on a solid foundation. And so, it is my pleasure today to join City Councilman Danny Dromm, Library President and CEO Thomas Galante and all our partners in government and the community to put the finishing touches on a foundation that will support a wonderful state-of-the-art library that will include a Memory Wall and original building bricks to acknowledge our past as we build for the future,” Marshall said.
“I have believed for many years in the power of libraries to educate and inspire,” she added. ” I take great pride in knowing that more than $23.5 million from my office will help to build this new facility, which will double the size of the former Elmhurst library.”
“This is a very exciting development for Elmhurst. It is important for an area so diverse and dense to have a library that can serve the needs of local residents,” Dromm said. “As chair of the New York City Council’s Immigration Committee, I am keenly aware of how important libraries are for our immigrant population. Libraries provide a place to learn English, catch up on news from back home, and connect with loved ones who are far away. The new, larger Queens Library will meet the needs of all members of our community and offer more services than the old library.”
“We are very excited to be working with Marpillero Pollak, Architects and Stalco Construction Inc. to bring the people of Elmhurst a library that reflects their needs and their neighborhood,” added Department of Design and Construction Commissioner David Burney. “The new Elmhurst library will provide significantly more program area than the original 1906 building, with double the physical space, triple the space for educational and arts programming, and a design that allows for future expansion. The new building will also incorporate the city’s activedesign principles by encouraging movement throughout the space, especially via stairways.”
“Elmhurst is a thriving neighborhood that needs a state-of-the-art library to support education, job growth and intellectual development. The new design by award-winning Marpillero Pollak Architects will combine all the library features the community deserves while paying homage to the library’s legacy in Elmhurst,” said Galante.
In addition to general contractor Stalco Construction, Inc. and architect Marpillero Pollak Architects, the project team includes structural engineer Severud Associates, MEP engineer ads Engineers, lighting designer See/Arch and landscape architect Wallace Roberts & Todd.
The new Queens Library at Elmhurst will be 30,000 sq. ft., double the size of the former library, featuring four levels for customer service with elevator access to all levels. Features include separate library areas for adults, children and teens; a large 32-computer Cyber Center for customer use; a new Adult Learner Center; an interior reading atrium and front and rear community gardens.
“Memory features” will preserve the library’s legacy in the community. Original bricks will be used in the new façade. The nostalgic Children’s Room fireplace will be relocated to the new building. There will be a 1906 Memory Wall plus many other acknowledgements of the library’s long history in the community.
The new library will cost $27.8 million and is expected to be open in 2014. Funding for the new library was provided by Marshall, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Dromm.
While the new building is under construction, library service is being provided from a temporary building located behind the St. James Episcopal Church on 85-08 51st Ave. at Broadway. The Adult Learning Center is holding classes in the St. James Gymnasium at 84-07 Broadway.
