The 1-story brick facility housing the Castle Hill branch of the New York Public Library (NYPL) was built in 1981 and has since become a Bronx community staple. Now, Abruzzo Bodziak Architects (ABA) is renovating the building on Castle Hill Avenue near the corner of Bruckner Boulevard.
ABA is working with NYPL and the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) to modernize the branch’s interior and exterior. The New York City architecture practice was listed on AN’s inaugural Twenty to Watch and was awarded the contract through the DDC’s Design and Construction Excellence Program, now in its 21st year.
“We designed the branch as a modern building rooted in the New York Public Library’s Carnegie legacy and its rigorous design standards,” said Emily Abruzzo, ABA partner, in a statement. “The renovation uses a new facade and entry to give the branch a clearer street presence and a more engaged relationship with its community.”
Abruzzo continued: “A new double-height central reading room, illuminated by diffuse daylight from added skylights, is anchored by a 65-foot community table that supports everything from quiet study to large public events.”
The old branch had an all brick facade with scant clerestories, making it impossible to look inside from the street. Soon, the Caste Hill NYPL will have a new roof, reading rooms, a redesigned facade, new skylights for abundant natural light, and ADA-compliant upgrades.
The most noticeable changes will be a new white masonry facade made of vertical- and horizontal-stacked Roman brick, and a large window that looks into the double-height central reading room. And the entry will now be ADA-compliant.
This rich material palette will continue inside, where in the entry the pale masonry is paired with terrazzo and ridged flooring.
Custom bookshelves designed by ABA will be appropriately-sized for children. Previously, ABA designed another bespoke, permanent shelving system inside Storefront for Art and Architecture.
The approximately 6,200-square-foot building will be designed in compliance with the New York City Energy Conservation Code. The architects are targeting LEED Silver.
The renovation will cost $17 million. It is part of a $230 million initiative by New York City government to transform the Bronx’s public libraries.
Shovels broke ground December 8 on the new Castle Hill NYPL and construction is slated for completion in summer 2027.
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