snøhetta's green library design in new york draws from verdant tree canopies of the bronx

Westchester Square Library by Snøhetta

Global architecture firm Snøhetta has unveiled plans for a new library in the Westchester Square neighborhood of the Bronx. The new building takes shape as a prismatic reading room rising from a concrete base and clad in glass facades. The design features abstract views of the neighborhood’s treetops, referencing the Bronx’s status as ‘New York City’s greenest borough’. Located next to the historic Huntington Free Library, the new Westchester Square branch will continue the site’s legacy as a place for future generations to acquire and share knowledge.

the Westchester Square library | visualizations © LMNB

a luminous beacon in the bronx

Aside from the visual connection to the greenery of the Bronx, Snøhetta’s fritted glass facade is calibrated to frame views of the surrounding blocks and filter incoming sunlight in order to reduce the library’s energy consumption. At night, the library is designed to shine as a luminous beacon for the neighborhood and the city.

The architects structured the interior spaces according to their need for light and views, so that the most social and active areas of the library, including the new spaces for children, teens and young adults, will be easily visible from the outside. The classrooms and community spaces overlook a new street-level view garden that doubles as a water retention and filtration system. The garden is planted with shade-loving groundcovers and flowering trees, providing a visual delight that combines the abstract façade design with the library’s environmental performance.

at night, the library is designed to shine as a luminous beacon for the neighborhood

project info: 

name: Westchester Square Library
architects: Snøhetta

civil engineer: Thornton Tomasetti

structural engineer: Silman

sustainability consultant: Atelier 10

MEP engineer: Altieri
location: New York, NY

visualizations: © LMNB