Is Bjarke Ingels Redesigning the New York Public Library Flagship?
Bjarke Ingels is most certainly on his way to New York architectural greatness, and scattered on the path behind him are the remains of Norman Foster‘s abandoned designs. Curbed has caught wind that the baby-faced starchitect is currently being considered for the redesign of the New York Public Library’s landmarked Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on 42nd Street. Yesterday afternoon, Theodore Grunewald, Vice President of the Committee to Save the New York Public Library, tweeted that both Bjarke Ingels and Ennead Architects were among the eight finalists being considered for the project—a list that also includes Studio Gang Architects and Robert A.M. Stern Architects.
Grunewald tweeted with great confidence:
BREAKING @BjarkeIngels (BIG), RAMSA, & @enneadarch (Polshek) among finalists competing to succeed @FosterPartners‘ @NYPL Centrl Library Plan
— Theodore Grunewald (@TedGrunewald) September 14, 2015
Foster’s $300 million NYPL renovation plan was shelved last summer as the result of three lawsuits, cries over cost, and regular protests on the library steps—among numerous other issues. Grunewald and his organization were vehemently against Foster’s design and played a big part in his ousting. Grunewald’s “reveal” appears to speak to the lack of public transparency seen previously with Foster. As he told Curbed: “What will our library be? Physical changes are dramatic and hard to reverse. The momentum behind these new plans is again, very strong. The public should be able to see these plans now.”
With hundreds of millions of dollars still promised from the city budget, the NYPL is set on moving ahead with changes to the main building that will more than double its exhibition area, provide a new education corridor serving children and teens, and offer new space for researchers and writers. The library is also still aiming to go high-tech with its update.
[Via Curbed]
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