New York Public Library Counter Proposal

with Peter Pennoyer and Peter Pennoyer Architects, 2014

In 2013 the New York Public Library proposed to store the
books of its main branch on Bryant Park off site, and to replace
its shelving stacks with a lending library. This counterproposal
relocates the proposed lending library beyond the existing
stacks, beneath the Bryant Park terrace. A grand reading room is
lit by clerestory windows let into balustraded moats in the park.
The watercolor presentation drawings are by Anton Glikin of
Peter Pennoyer Architects.

1. View of the reading room beneath Bryant

Park terrace, from main level.
2. Site section from Bryant Park to Fifth Avenue showing
relationship of proposed lending library to the existing
library building.
3. Plan of proposed lending library at park level.
4. Plan of lending library at main level.
5. Preparatory plan and section for view of the
reading room.

Proposed
Reading LRoom
beneath
Bryant
Terrace, from
Main Level., 2014
P ROPOSED
L ENDING
IBRARY
BY P
ETER Park
P ENNOYER
A RCHITECTS

Stack Extension

Existing Bookstacks

Gottesman Exhibition Hall

Proposed Lending Library

P ROPOSED S ITE
S ECTION
B RYANT
ARK TO
F IFTH
AVENUE
, P ENNOYER P LAN
Proposed
SiteFROM
Section
from PBryant
Park
to Fifth
Avenue.

Astor Hall

Restaurant Terrace

Fire Stair

Entrance

Light Well

Bryant Memorial

42nd Street

Fire Stair

Fire Stair

40th Street

Plan ofLProposed
Library
ParkP LAN
Level,
Relocated
Bryant
Memorial.
P ROPOSED
ENDING LLending
IBRARY, B
RYANT at
PARK
, BYwith
P ETER
P ENNOYER
A RCHITECTS
, 2014

Footprint of Library Above

Lobby

Main Reading Room Below

Science, Industry,
and Business Library

42nd Street

40th Street
P ROPOSED
L IBRARY
, M AIN
L EVELatP LAN
, BY
P ETER
P ENNOYER
RCHITECTS , 2014
PlanL ENDING
of Proposed
Lending
Library
Main
Level,
with
ReadingARoom
below.

Preparatory Plan and Section for View of the Reading Room.