March 4, 2014
Ribbon Cutting

Ribbon Cutting: Washing Heights Library

The building that houses the Washington Heights Library was celebrated with a beautiful renovation, just in time for its centennial birthday. Community members and elected officials gathered to welcome the airier design, complete with new furniture, 60 new computers and fully updated elevators and wheelchair lifts.

The building is one of the original 67 branch libraries that Andrew Carnegie built for the New York Public Library system. It also boasts one of the largest children’s rooms in the NYPL system; the entire 3,300 square-foot second floor is dedicated to children. Large windows, ample stroller parking, and child-sized furniture round out the long list of new amenities

The Department of Design and Construction oversaw a partial interior renovation that primarily ensured that all patrons, including those with impairments, could easily access and use the library. With the help of Dattner Architects, DDC also added a new roof, replaced HVAC units, and created a new work room and customer service desk. This 17,000 square-foot library is a huge asset for the community, one that is now capable of beginning another hundred years of activity.