Westchester Square Library: New York’s ‘Green Library’

By Team CG
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January 04, 2023
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As part of the development of a library in the Bronx, Snøhetta designed a building that will boast a green exterior and significant sustainability features, including solar power and rainwater collection, based on the city's abundance of trees and park space.

With the help of the New York City Department of Design and Construction, the Westchester Square Library is being designed to consist of a concrete base with a glazed box section above. The textured glass depicts abstract tree views while allowing light to pass through.

According to the design team, the building will glow at night as well, akin to a ‘beacon’.

Despite its aesthetic appeal, this design emphasizes the importance of protecting the environment. A large glass box-like room will be built on top of a concrete base.

This will provide daylight from all four sides and reduce the need for artificial lighting. At night, the glass will release a unique light due to specially designed trees and plants.

The library will have a total area of 12,000 square feet, including several study rooms, two classrooms, and nooks for research. The building will be designed to maximize natural light.

In the design, another garden will be constructed across the street for the large number of people to sit in, which will be built with rainwater and filtration. A halo of flowering trees will surround it.