Toshiko Mori Architects’s first refresh to the Brooklyn Public Library’s Central Library brought books to the front entrance of the library for the first time in decades. Now to continue the project that responds to the library’s mission “to provide free access to all the world’s wisdom,” the architecture firm has returned for phase two; the project unveiled last week will offer expanded spaces for children, teens, and adult learners.
The project will increase the library’s available public space while preserving its extensive collection for recreational use and academic research. This renovation marks the most significant wave of library redevelopment since the Carnegie era, with government and private partners working together. A $150 million capital plan is making the ambitious project possible.
Toshiko Mori, the lead architect, commented on phase one of the project: “The words carved at the entrance to the library read ‘The Brooklyn Public Library, through the joining of municipal enterprise and private generosity, offers to all people perpetual and free access to the knowledge and thought of all the ages.”
The first phase of the renovation restored areas previously used for administrative purposes to public use. For the New and Noteworthy Book Gallery, a custom-designed metal ceiling sculpture was installed. The Civic Commons and the Major Owens Welcome Center were enhanced with refurbished oak paneling and terrazzo flooring. These same materials were applied on the second floor, in addition to more mechanical upgrades throughout.
Phase two introduces several key updates to the BPL’s Central Library. The Adult Learning Center will be updated with specialized collections, a cutting-edge computer lab, a seminar room for classes and meetings, and adaptable spaces for lifelong learners. Renderings of the space depict a bright, airy environment with classrooms and moveable tables and chairs. Large windows will afford patrons views of the street. A large screen for presentations and informational displays adds to the flexibility of the learning center. The use of wooden accents draws similarities to the shelves and furnishings used in the spaces renovated during the first phase. The restored collection areas will preserve the library’s historical architecture while improving functionality and providing spaces to read, work, and learn. These areas will feature long wooden tables with ample seating.
The new children’s area is slated to become a prominent location with BPL’s Central Library. Visuals show the nook subtly decked out in natural elements such as wood and soft green tones. It’s clear the design intends to foster a welcoming and engaging environment for young children. A semi-circular dome in the ceiling adds a sense of enclosure and intimacy to the open space along with the wooden archways conceived with soft, round curves. Shelving will be built into the wooden archways and natural light pours in through large windows.
The newly established teen center will feature an open layout accented by a series of arches that create division among the shelves and workspaces. The archways integral to the design of the children’s area will appear again in this space, albeit with a more rigid and elongated form. Seating options—among these chairs and benches— for kicking back with a book and hanging out with friends are in abundance. The ceiling will feature multi-layered wooden beams. Beyond physical literature, the space doubles as a tech center with music and podcast recording pods and a dedicated gaming hub.
Looking ahead, the renovation project reaches beyond the current upgrades, with long-term plans in sight. Future phases aim to transform lower-level storage spaces into public areas. Additionally, it will link the Central Library to Mount Prospect Park with the creation of an elevated outdoor reading garden.
The BPL organized interactive community engagement sessions, focus groups, and surveys both in-person at the library and online, gathering valuable feedback from the public. Moving forward, the library will continue involving the community and will host additional engagement sessions to help shape the next phases of the renovation.
Phase two will be carried out in stages so as to keep the library in operation. It is expected to be completed by 2027.
