REPORT: Queens Library and Cultural Center at Hunters Point 'The Library on the River'

Friends of the Queens Library & Cultural Center at Hunters Point 'the library on the river'

Fund Raising for the Library

Long Island City, Queens, NY July 27, 2010 - The following report was submitted to OurLIC by Rita Dusseau, Secretary: The purpose of this closed meeting was to caucus with officials involved with the library, with Faith Rose of the Department of Design and Construction (who is in charge of this project for the DDC) and to meet Chris McVoy and Olaf Schmidt, representing the architectural firm of Steven Holl.  Steven Holl Architects has been selected to design the library. There were 13 people in attendance Below is an information sheet prepared by the Queens Library which clearly describes the project, the goals, the funding and the funding needs. Also, find below a photo of your Friends Board Members representing our "library on the river" at City of Water Day on Governors Island. We are bursting with gratitude that the project has progressed to this stage.  An excellent building functioning as a heart of this community will surely be built.  All of us, given the complexities of politics and funding, have worked hard to assure that there will be at least a 20 - 22 thousand square foot structure erected.  The library building site, Parcel 8, at 48th Avenue and Center Boulevard, is big enough to hold a much larger building of 30 to 40 thousand square feet. Ms. Rose, Mr. McVoy and Mr. Schmidt will seek input from our community as they begin the preliminary design.  A public meeting will be announced sometime this Fall.  Joe Conley, Community Board 2 President, said that he was planning to form a committee to gather community input for the Queens Library to help with the planning.  Please note that Queens Library has agreed with our Friends Group that this building should be a cultural center with meeting, gallery and performance space, as well as a library.  This is reflected in the name change from Queens Library at Hunters Point to Queens Library and Cultural Center at Hunters Point "the library on the river". Assembling the funds on hand so far has been a miraculous success in these hard times.  If any of you is aware of private or corporate philanthropies who could supply additional funding, please let us know.  We will gladly pursue any leads or suggestions that you might have for big fund raising. Friends of the Library Board of Directors Don Dodelson, President Nina Stromberg, Vice President Mark Christie, Treasurer Rita Dusseau, Secretary  Greg Hughes, Member at Large PRESS RELEASE FROM STEVEN HOLL ARCHITECTS STEVEN HOLL ARCHITECTS CHOSEN TO DESIGN THE NEW QUEENS LIBRARY AT HUNTERS POINT 29 July 2010 Steven Holl Architects has been selected to design the new library at the Queens West Development at Hunters Point. This new library will provide state of the art library services to the community, as well as offer a space for community programming. The new Queens Library is sited with spectacular views over the East River and major landmarks, such as the UN Building and the Roosevelt Memorial by Louis I. Kahn under construction on Roosevelt Island. It will function as a connector between waterfront activities and the city beyond. With residential buildings, three acres of new park land and public schools as neighbors, the library will serve as a new "urban forum" and an invaluable resource for the community. The new Library will shape public space and create new connections across the Queens West Development, Hunter Points South, and the existing neighborhood of Hunters Point. Tom Galante, Chief Executive Officer for the Queens Library, said, "Queens Library at Hunters Point will be a great resource for the whole community. We are looking forward to working with Steven Holl Architects to see a truly special library built on this site." In addition to the stacks, the new library will house reading areas, a gallery, public assembly multi-purpose meeting room for community programming including after-school study, readings, and various locally based events, and associated library staff and support areas. The project scope also includes the design of a separate structure to accommodate the users and staff of the adjacent Gantry Plaza State Park, to be located on the same site. "This library will be a beacon for the Queens Library system and a cultural center for this growing and dynamic neighborhood" said David J. Burney, Commissioner of the Department of Design and Construction, which is managing the project. "Steven Holl Architects deliver dramatic architecture and innovative responses to complex client programs, and has proven to be adept at creating iconic buildings that respond to their site, culture, and history. This will be Steven Holl's first public New York City commission, and we are looking forward to working with him on this exciting project." Steven Holl states, "We are very pleased with this great commission for an addition to the growing community. We envision a building hovering and porous, open to the public park. A luminous form of opportunity for knowledge, standing on its own reflection in the east river."   Below are Friends Group Board promoting our future "library on the river", and all of the Queens Library Consortium, on Governors Island Saturday, July 24th.  Our table attracted lots of attention from the revelers enjoying City of Water Day on the Island,  We passed out 3 cases of water bottles with the Queens Library logo, as well as pens, pencils, frisbees, READ tattoos, beach balls, magnets and assorted toys.  Take a look at the table- nearly empty and totally devoid of hand-out goodies by the end of the day.  We raised awareness of our project and added names to our email list.  This was the 2nd year we represented Queens Library in this event. Left to right:  Greg Hughes, Mark Christie, Larry Dusseau, Rita Dusseau, Don Dodelson Fund Raising for the Library

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