Queens Central Library, CLDC Story by 1100 Architect Queens Central Library, CLDC Children’s Library Discovery Center at Queens Library Story by SKOLNICK Architecture + Design Partnership Children’s Library Discovery Center at Queens Library

Queens Central Library, CLDC

1100 Architect as Architect/Designer

The design and construction of the Children’s Library Discovery Center (CLDC) is the implementation of one of the first phases of 1100 Architect’s master plan for the renovation and modernization of the 275,000-square-foot Queens Central Library. The CLDC is a 22,000-square-foot, two-story addition adjacent to the existing Central Library building. The glowing glass façade will be a beacon in the surrounding community and is elemental in increasing the library’s visibility and reintroducing it as a central cultural and social destination. Situated on a corner, the new addition takes advantage of its exposure to the street, creating a dialogue between the interior and exterior through the use of large transparent windows that allow an abundance of natural light to enter. The perimeter wall has been thickened to incorporate quiet reading nooks and intimate social spaces. This project will receive a LEED Silver rating.


The Municipal Art Society of New York, MASterworks Awards: Best Neighborhood Catalyst, 2012. Queens Chamber of Commerce, Building Awards: New Construction / Public Building, 2011. Queens Library Foundation, Award for Excellence in Design, 2011. Public Design Commission of the City of New York, Design Award, 2007. NYC Department of Design and Construction, Design and Construction Excellence Program.

Children’s Library Discovery Center at Queens Library

SKOLNICK Architecture + Design Partnership as Designers

Within an addition to the Queens Library, designed by 1100 Architects, is a three-level science-themed children’s library. The interiors use colorful, iconic imagery and interactive exhibits to inspire and educate young readers. Utilizing environmental graphics and 3D sculptures, the space is a welcoming, easy-to-navigate learning experience that introduces children to scientific topics.


In contrast to the clean, white interiors, color, texture and form were incorporated as well as bright striated ‘pathways’ as way-finding graphics to invite, direct and engage young library visitors. Once visitors pass through a colorful, illuminated portal signifying the entry point to the CLDC, they encounter a large floor map of Queens that utilizes unique logos of various local landmarks to orient visitors to the borough. From this map, color pathways lead visitors to destinations such as Circulation Desk, book stacks, Early Childhood Reading Area and computer area. Additional pathways meander up the central staircase, guiding visitors to second level reading areas and the Cyber Center.


The thematic environmental graphics that expand from the floor map, sculptural iconography based on the same 2D icons, and signage bring science alive and re-imagine the role of books in a library. The CLDC is the only public library in the US to incorporate interactive museum exhibits into a traditional, reading-rich library environment. 3D icons identify “science plazas” that incorporate interactive exhibits, changing displays and books related to the natural and physical sciences. CLDC’s tabletop exhibits, designed around children’s literacy, science, technology, and math, were created by experts in the field of interactive children’s science exhibits. In addition to sculptural icons depicting rockets, planets, atoms and other scientific topics, a large scale acrylic wave incorporates changing lighting and motion to mark the location of the Early Childhood reading area. This area engages young children with other aquatic themes including colorful ABC murals depicting kids at the beach, overhead kinetic sea life mobiles and a real aquarium.


The modern library functions as a ‘town square’ of sorts, assisting patrons from many different backgrounds in accessing information. The CLDC serves the most ethnically diverse county in the US, including children from 80 countries that speak more than 50 languages. The iconography was developed with this in mind in order to make the library easy to navigate by all. The floor map helps visitors locate significant landmarks such as subway lines and cultural attractions, as well as the other 62 libraries in the Queens Library system. Additionally, certain icons play audio tracks when patrons walk over them - the crack of a bat from Citifield stadium, train announcements on the LIRR, piano music from the Steinway factory, etc. A media presentation on the central staircase wall consists of animated projections that present common words in Queens’ most spoken languages – English, Spanish, French, Mandarin, Korean and Russian - in visual and auditory form using children’s voices.

Products Behind Projects
Product Spotlight
News
Nokha Village Community Centre by Sanjay Puri Architects is an architectural oasis in the desert
18 Mar 2024 News
Nokha Village Community Centre by Sanjay Puri Architects is an architectural oasis in the desert

Mumbai-based Sanjay Puri Architects has completed the Nokha Village Community Centre, an architectur... More

Square and Tourist Office: Emerging finalist in Mies van der Rohe Awards 2024
15 Mar 2024 News
Square and Tourist Office: Emerging finalist in Mies van der Rohe Awards 2024

In this Archello series, we look at each of the seven nominated projects (five architecture finalist... More

25 best mosaic wall tile manufacturers
15 Mar 2024 Specification
25 best mosaic wall tile manufacturers

Mosaic wall tiles are produced in an enormous range of colors, shapes and finishes, and from a varie... More

Introducing Partner Motion Facades
15 Mar 2024 Partner News
Introducing Partner Motion Facades

Motion Facades specializes in supplying advanced facade systems for luxury real estate projects. Its... More

Bergendy Cooke, Grégoire Du Pasquier, Ruth Baleiko and Mathew Albores join Archello Awards 2024 jury panel
15 Mar 2024 Archello Awards
Bergendy Cooke, Grégoire Du Pasquier, Ruth Baleiko and Mathew Albores join Archello Awards 2024 jury panel

Architects Bergendy Cooke, Grégoire Du Pasquier, Ruth Baleiko and Mathew Albores have been an... More

JSWD completes new office complex in Bonn unified by triangular facade elements
14 Mar 2024 News
JSWD completes new office complex in Bonn unified by triangular facade elements

International architectural firm JSWD has completed the Neuer Kanzlerplatz office complex in the cit... More

Archello Awards 2024 expands with 'Firm Awards'
14 Mar 2024 Archello Awards
Archello Awards 2024 expands with 'Firm Awards'

Today Archello introduces a new set of Firm Awards categories to widen the scope of the Archello Awa... More

Studio Egret West develops plans for new Passivhaus homes
13 Mar 2024 News
Studio Egret West develops plans for new Passivhaus homes

London-based multidisciplinary architecture and design practice Studio Egret West has developed plan... More