3. Several buildings were designed by Carrère & Hastings
The Carrère and Hastings architectural firm was responsible for quite a few Beaux-Arts constructions in New York City. John Merven Carrère and Thomas Hastings collaborated on projects such as the main branch of the New York Public Library, the interior of the Metropolitan Opera House, the Frick House, and the Standard Oil Building in the Financial District. Their contribution to architecture came in the realm of urban design, aiming to beautify city life while implementing centuries-old architectural styles.
The St. George Library Center, Staten Island Borough Hall, and Richmond County Courthouse are the three structures in the neighborhood that were built by the Carrère and Hastings firm. The French Renaissance-mixed Borough Hall was built in 1906 and serves as the primary municipal building for the borough. The Neoclassical style of the courthouse is characterized by its pillars at the front, while the Library Center features timber-beamed ceilings with a clear view of New York Harbor from its windows.
