LOCATION
Brooklyn, New York
CLIENT
The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY)
TYPE
Education | Library | Addition + Renovation
AWARDS
2016
The Chicago Athenaeum International Architecture Award
Society of American Registered Architects New York - Honor Award
2015
World Architecture News, Education Award - longlisted
Set within the Bedford building at CUNY Medgar Evers College, this renovation transforms an existing traditional library into a modern information commons and café. The concept for the renovation is inspired by illuminated manuscripts and their modern counterpart, the computer screen.
Treating each interior surface as a bright reflective page, the project transforms the formerly dark and shadowy space into a bright and airy learning environment that takes advantage of an existing two-story glass wall to admit natural light deep into the building.
A new three-story opening along the north façade and new sculptural staircase link all three levels of the Library, increasing the legibility of the space for patrons. The result is a light-filled, inspiring information commons with adjacent study and classroom spaces.
