ADRIEN BLOCK LIBRARY
Queens, NY | 4,500 SF | Sustainable Design Features | Educational
ORIGINAL CONDITIONS
The library is located in a 1970 school building in Bayside Queens, NY, a predominantly Asian neighborhood.
The school principals desired a special space where many activities of the school and the community could take place. APT's design solution was to insert series of colored box-shaped soffits of different depths, that manipulate the spatial volume below into the existing ceiling. In fact, the new multicolored ceiling, references paper lanterns, creating a variety of defined areas in the existing large space.
Custom units separate the space further, creating a media center, a classroom, discussion niches and lounge areas for the many students of this large school.
The library’s materials and technologies, ergonomic furnitureand ceiling with LED lighting respond to the latest environmental and health requirements developed with the client.
This project is part of Atelier Pagnamenta Torriani’s architectural acupuncture interventions in NYC: a transformative series of public school libraries that are expanding their educational purpose by rebuilding communities through culture.
Photographs by APT