11. Stapleton Library

Last June, the New York Public Library reopened its Stapleton Branch on Staten Island, located on Canal Street. The new library, at 12,000 square feet, is more than double its original size. While the building has a modern twist, it still offers the “Carnegie Library” charm of the original. The renovation not only revamped the original 1907 library, but also created a sleek 7,000-square foot light-filled addition. The older building houses the Children’s Reading Room and the new structure houses the teen and adult collections, as well as extensive digital media. Architect Andrew Berman explained that “together, this library is a unified whole that embraces the New York Public Library’s history and its future as a vital public institution.”

As the Structural Engineers for the renovation, guides from Gilsanz Murray Steficek will discuss the challenges of working with existing buildings and the design for the new addition.