The New York Public Library Battery Park City
Set within the base of a residential high-rise, this 10,500-square-foot branch of the New York Public Library serves a rapidly growing community in Lower Manhattan. A fully glazed, two-story façade establishes the library as a visible and welcoming civic presence. Inside, the design emphasizes openness, daylight, and spatial flexibility to support a range of uses—from quiet reading to collaborative learning. A central staircase doubles as an informal seating area and reference point, connecting the two floors both physically and visually. Distributed throughout are flexible workspaces, digital stations, and independent study zones, allowing the library to adapt to evolving community needs. The design positions the branch as an accessible and dynamic neighborhood hub.
Awards: Contract, Public Space Interiors Award, The New York Public Library, Battery Park City Branch, 2012
The National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association, Port Morris Tile and Marble Corporation Craftsmanship Award, 2011
Interior Design, Best of Year Merit Award, 2010
Publications: Zimmer, Lori. “Battery Park City Library Achieves LEED Gold Certification.” Inhabitat, June 21, 2012.
Tarricone, Paul. “Welcome to the Neighborhood.” LD+A, April 2012.
Landgraf, Greg. “New & Now: 2012 Library Design Showcase.” American Libraries, March / April 2012.
Kim, Sheila. “Battery Park City Branch, 1100 Architect.” Contract, January / February 2012.
Magill, Lee. “Ten Best Libraries.” Time Out New York Kids, August 2011.
Kolleeny, Jane. “Battery Park City Library, New York City, 1100 Architect.” Architectural Record, March 2011.
“Supertrendy, Supergreen.” Ecologik, December 2010/January 2011.
Space, Ifeng. Architecture of Low Energy Consumption. Shanghai: Jiangsu People’s Publishing House, 2011.
Allen, Cindy, ed. Interior Design Best of Year. Boca Raton, FL: Sandow Media, 2011.
Hill, John. Guide to Contemporary New York City Architecture. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2011.
“Best of Year: The New York Public Library, Battery Park City.” Interior Design, December 2010.
Lindstedt, Katherine. “Open > Library: Battery Park City Library by 1100 Architect.” The Architect’s Newspaper, July 28, 2010.
Kaminer, Ariel. “A Library That Most Can Only Dream Of.” The New York Times, March 26, 2010.
Ong, Bao. “A New Resident in Battery Park City with Lots of Books.” The New York Times, March 15, 2010.
Pinto, Nick. “Plans for BPC Library Unveiled.” Tribeca Tribune, October 5, 2007.
Typology: Civic/Cultural, Education
Services: New Buildings, Interior Design, Sustainability, Programming
Status: Completed
Size: 11000 SF
Location: New York, NY
Design Team: Principal-in-Charge/Design Principal:
David Piscuskas, FAIA, LEED AP,
Juergen Riehm, FAIA, BDA LEED Gold Certified
Photography: © MICHAEL MORAN
