Renovations To 5th Ave's Famed Library Approved By City: Report

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — The city Landmarks Preservation Commission approved a series of exterior renovations to the New York Public Library's main branch in Midtown Manhattan, according to reports.

Commissioners voted Tuesday to give the library permission to conduct renovations such as an expanded loading dock, a new public terrace, accessibility improvements and a new 40th Street entrance, Curbed first reported. The plans approved this week differed slightly from a presentation given by the NYPL in February.

The city's approval isn't susprising given that the renovations are part of a $317M master planto overhaul the Steven A. Schwarzman Building. The plan was first announced by the library in 2017.

Most of the library's major exterior renovations will be made to the 40th Street side of the building in order to make it more symmetrical with the 41st Street side, according to the library's presentation. A new terrace will be added to the side of the Schwarzman building that will feature plantings, seats and tables. The existing plaza touching Fifth Avenue will also be re-graded to remove a short step and make the space more accessible.

The library will also expand an existing loading area that's located about halfway down the block on West 40th Street, according to the library's presentation.

Other exterior renovations include improving the existing Fifth Avenue plaza by re-grading the public spaces; removing inaccessible grille covers and adding new lighting fixtures; improvements to nearby subway entrances, installing ADA-accessible ramps at existing public spaces and improving access to Bryant Park.

The New York Public Library renovation project is expected to take until 2021 to complete and will be conducted in two phases using private funds. Landmarked and historic interiors such as the Rose Reading Room and the maps division will be preserved.

Other highlights of the renovation plan include:

• Transforming former staff or storage spaces into public spaces for research, exhibitions and educational programs.
• Transforming underutilized, historic spaces for research and programs, including the new Lenox and Astor Room.
• Constructing an entrance on 40th Street with a plaza and new elevator bank.
• Building new bathrooms and improving and modernizing library infrastructure.
• Building a new center for research and learning for high school and university students.
• Establishing a new permanent rotating exhibition of NYPL treasures in the library's Gottesman Hall.