By Sarina Trangle
A fresh Kew Gardens Hills Library complete with an area exclusively for teens should be ready to greet students next summer break.
The Queens Library announced the 30,000-square-foot expansion of the branch started last April should be completed by summer 2015.
The $8.2 million undertaking includes expanding the 72-33 Vleigh Place branch to the edge of the library’s property lines along Vleigh Place and 72nd Road, a complete interior renovation and the installation of a new facade.
The additional space will primarily contain conference rooms available to library guests and staff.
The interior revamping will enable the library to include a 580-square-foot teen area. It will also come with technology upgrades that double the number of computers at the branch and bring a self-checkout system and round-the-clock check-in service into the library.
Renderings of the project show the addition of a modern, curved desktop with computers on it and jagged, contemporary walls breaking up smaller office spaces.
A new facade and modern entryway will wrap up the renovation.
The glass fiber-reinforced concrete panels slated to cover the branch contain rippled, curtain-like folds. The Kew Gardens Library’s new entrance will also be shaped to resemble the folded page of a book.
The project’s green roof, stormwater retention tank, low-flow plumbing fixtures and other sustainable elements are expected to help it achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.
Such LEED designations signify that a building incorporates green technology.
During construction, Queens Library will continue to lend books at a temporary location across the street, at 71-34 Main St.
Reach reporter Sarina Trangle at 718-260-4546 or by e-mail at strangle@cnglocal.com.
