New York Public Library Architect Presents Plan For New Roosevelt Island Branch To RIOC Board Real Estate Committee - It Looks Good But Probably Won't Open Until Early 2018

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Real Estate Development Advisory Committee and interested members of the community heard a presentation yesterday, May 14, from representatives of the New York Public Library (NYPL) about plans for the new Roosevelt Island branch library (full audio web cast of meeting here).

NYPL's architect Christian Uhl presented a plan to place the entrance to the library on the Northwest corner of 504 Main Street site

instead of on the south side of the building

slightly off Main Street.



Also discussed were the timing, funding and interior design of the new Roosevelt Island branch library. According to Mathew Blood, Project Manager at the NYC Department of Design and Construction, the best case scenario for completion of the library is late 2017, early 2018. Mr. Blood added that the project is fully funded. Mr. Uhl described the interior of the library including 650 square foot reading room.



Looping technology for the hearing impaired will be available in the reading room.

Mr Uhl and NYPL's Senior Project Manager David Holowka noted how they tried to respect the original design of the building which both RIOC Director Margie Smith and Roosevelt Island Historical Society President Judy Berdy said they appreciated.



Here's the full presentation.



More information on plans for the new Roosevelt Island NYPL branch available at this post on the November 2014 NYPL Roosevelt Island Community Conversation.