Mariners Harbor Library Staten Island, New York Architecture, NY Building Design

Mariners Harbor Library

Staten Island Civic Building, New York, USA design by A*PT Architecture, architects

Location: Staten Island, New York, USA

Design: A*PT Architecture (Atelier Pagnamenta Torriani), architects

Photos by Naha Kubota

Jun 3, 2014

Mariners Harbor Library Staten Island

Mariners Harbor Library, the newest branch of the New York Public Library, is located on Staten Island. The firm was commissioned for this 10,000 square-foot project by the Department of Design and Construction of the City of New York (DDC). LEED Silver pending, the building received a 2009 Award for Excellence in Design from the New York City Design Commission.

The single-story building is the first library in its neighborhood, a former oystering community. Its design concept —a cracked open oyster shell, rough on the outside and mother-of-pearl smooth on the inside—honors the area’s rich maritime past and oystering heritage. An immediate attraction, the Mariners Harbor Library (www.aptarchitecture.com – offline when checked April 28, 2024) has quickly become a local gathering place for reading, learning, and contemplation, and its colorful furnishings entice young visitors.

Accessible from South Avenue, the library’s plan maximizes site scale through integration into the neighborhood context, making it accessible and welcoming. The slight shifting and bending of its volumes create a hospitable entry and transition to its interior. There, a larger volume containing reading spaces and a smaller volume containing support functions are organized along an open, glazed, central circulation spine linking all services and providing exterior connectivity.

Daylight is maximized through glass walls and skylights, minimizing the need for supplemental lighting. Ceilings are gypsum board with integrated lighting and glass along the circulation spine. Flooring is polished concrete and linoleum. Custom and contract furniture shape the interior spaces. A multipurpose room with audiovisual equipment is open to the public.

Environmental aspects of the library include abundant controlled daylight and views, energy efficiency, the use of recycled materials, water conservation, and preservation of its garden’s mature trees. The facade glazing is low-e insulated, with eastern and western exposure fritting that mitigates heat and glare.

Technical glazing with integral louvers is used for the circulation spine’s glass roof, allowing northern light in while deflecting direct sunlight. The building’s “rough” exterior shell is standing seam zinc, providing resiliency and maintenance ease. Its craftsmanship qualities relate to the neighborhood.

Mariners Harbor Library Staten Island – Building Information

Location: Staten Island, NY, USA
Architects: A*PT Architecture (Atelier Pagnamenta Torriani), architects
GFA: 10,000 sq. ft.
Completed: 2013
Sustainability: Targeting LEED Silver
Address: 206 South Ave, Staten Island, NY 10303, United States
Phone: +1 212-621-0690