ABA’s renovation and expansion of the Crandall Public Library in New York was named Best Library Construction / Renovation Project by the New York Library Association. The 52,000-square-foot renovation and expansion project creates a civic and intellectual resource at the center of three communities.

The design triples library space while preserving the library’s historic scale and character. An open floor plan offers flexibility and clear sightlines. In the new wing, structure and mechanical systems are exposed above suspended wood or acoustic tile ceiling “clouds.” With strong colors and natural light, these create distinct identities for library program areas. The lower level provides a large Community Room, a lobby gallery, and the Folk Life Archive and Study Center. The original 1927 Charles Platt building was restored, its historic finishes reinstated, and new systems were integrated throughout both buildings. The new addition, scaled for its location on the public park, is related in height and material to the original library, and with its combination of glass and metal on traditional brick, offers a contemporary and more transparent public welcome.

Location: Glens Falls, New York
Project Size: 52,000 sf

Project Team: Pamela Hawkes FAIA, Steven Gerrard AIA, Robert Miklos, Anne-Sophie Divenyi, Robert Genova, Brandon Prinzing, Georgy John (ABA); JMZ Architects and Planners (Associate Architect); Schoder Rivers Associates (Structural); Quantum Engineering (MEP / FP); The LA Group (Landscape / Civil); Sladen Feinstein Integrated Lighting (Lighting); Acentech (Acoustics); Wil-Spec (Specifications); Design Network (Interior / FFE); Wojciechowski Design (Signage); Nolan Lushington (Library Consultant); The Pike Company, Inc. (Construction Manager); Peter Vanderwarker (Photography)