BAP: Hunter's Point Library

HUNTERS POINT LIBRARY

BUILDING ANALYSIS BY CHRIS GILL AND ETHAN ODBERG

Project Data Location: Queens, New York Year of completed construction: 2019 Total area: 22,000 sq ft Total construction cost: $41.5 million

Project Team Client: Queens Public Library Architect: Steven Holl Architects General Contractor: TB Penick & Sons Landscape: Michael Van Valkenburgh Structure: Robert Silman Associates MEP: ICOR Associates

1 Exterior photo. Hunters Point Library (Arch Daily)

01 STORY

Analysis by Chris Gill + Ethan Odberg ARCH 341 Discussion Instructor: Ponitz

Hunters Point Library Queens, NY, USA Steven Holl Architects

Hunters Point Library Queens, NY, USA Steven Holl Architects

Analysis by Chris Gill + Ethan Odberg ARCH 341 Discussion Instructor: Ponitz

ARCHITECTURE FIRM PROFILE Steven Holl Architects is a 44 person team based in both New York City and Beijing, China. They are primarily a large scale urban design firm but do projects ranging from single family homes to skyscrapers. The firm’s architectural philosophy centers around creating space-driven and ideadriven design rather than program-based solutions.

Steven Holl specifically made an architectural progression from typology based design early in his career to more geometrically complex and hybridized building forms which can be seen in this project. Steven Holl, and his firm’s work tends to really focus on context, materiality, sustainability, experience, and light.

Concept Development: Watercolor Drawings (StevenHoll Web)

PROJECT BACKGROUND REACH Expansion at the Kennedy Center (Arch Daily)

With their advanced building solutions, Steven Holl Architects have won several awards including the Alvar Aalto Medal (1998), AIA Gold Medal (2012), and the 2016 VELUX Daylight Award just to name a few.

Green Space The Hunters Point Library was intended to function as an extension of the public park on the East River, providing much-needed green space in a hyper-urban environment. The site neighbors Gantry Plaza State Park and LIC Park on the Long Island City waterfront, and therefore sees an opportunity to tie into and enhance the existing fabric of green space.

Urban experience Surrounded by high rises and gazing out towards the island of Manhattan, the library has oblong holes cut out of it to function as windows, providing users with dramatic views of the surrounding urban context.

Program The program of the library can be read on the different facades on the building’s surface; there are distinct spaces for children, teens, and adults. While the building footprint is uniquely compact and the interior programmatic spaces are separate, they are all tied together by a large staircase, helping blur the boundaries between each space.

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Dezeen)

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A Beacon on the East River (Steven Holl Web)

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02 SITE

Analysis by Chris Gill + Ethan Odberg ARCH 341 Discussion Instructor: Ponitz

Hunters Point Library Queens, NY, USA Steven Holl Architects

Hunters Point Library Queens, NY, USA Steven Holl Architects

Analysis by Chris Gill + Ethan Odberg ARCH 341 Discussion Instructor: Ponitz

PSYCHROMETRIC CHART REGIONAL RESOURCES

CONTEXT

Water New York City gets its water primarily from two reservoir systems in the Croton and Catskill/ Delaware watersheds. The Catskill/Delaware system, located at a higher elevation, is connected to the Croton system via two Aqueducts, the Delaware and Catskill Aqueducts. The water is then pooled in the Kensico Reservoir, roughly 5 miles north of White Plains, NY, before being pumped into homes and institutions all throughout New York City.

Altogether, the system contains 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes and supplies 1.1 billion gallons of safe drinking water to 9 million people.

The Hunters Point Library is located in the borrough of Queens in New York City, the most populous city in the United States. This hyper-urban site condition provides unique opportunities as well as drawbacks.

At the forefront of Steven Holl’s design process was the desire to strike a balance between the “concrete jungle” of New York and green spaces.

Fortunately, the Library is located on the waterfront, providing views of Manhattan across the East River, and more importantly, freeing the building from an overwhelming urban condition. It also has access to nearby parks on the waterfront.

GOOGLE MAPS DIAGRAM

Waste The city of New York has a complex water treatment system that can process up to 1.3 billion gallons of of water each day.

After water is sent to one water each day.

After use,use, water is sent to one of 14 of 14 wastewater treatment throughout wastewater treatment plantsplants throughout the citytheto be city to be processed. processed.

It is worth It is worth noting that 60% of NYC combined meaning notinguses that a60% of NYCsewer uses asystem, combined sewerthat stormwater is alsothat treated at wastewater treatment system, meaning stormwater is also treated at plants duringtreatment rain events.

As aduring result,rain rainevents. events Rain can wastewater plants lead combined sewer overflowssewer (CSOs) which eventstocan also lead to combined overflows results effluentresults wastein flowing streets andinto (CSOs)inwhich effluent into waste flowing streets and waterways. waterways.

The city is trying The city to mitigate is trying the to mitigate severity thethese of severity events of these through events the through concurrent the expansion concurrent expansion of grey infrastructure of grey infrastructure and development and development of green of green infrastructure. infrastructure.

SUN PATH + WIND ROSE

BASELINE ENERGY

COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW TIERS

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TEMPERATURES

SITE (GOOGLE MAPS DIAGRAM)

COMBINED SEWER OVERFLOW (CSO) TIERS 4

ENERGY STRATEGIES Steven Holl specifically indicates that their decision to minimize the building footprint was to “allow for the most energy efficient design and the greatest amount of public green space on the site”. Not only does the minimized building footprint maximize green space, it’s narrow width (rough 40’) allows daylight to easily penetrate the entire space. Additionally, the firm cites the openness of the building section as being an advantage in their climate response. Being situated in a climate highly affected by the seasons (classified as a humid subtropical climate in most parts of the city), the building must be able to adapt to hot summer temperatures in addition to cold winter ones.

According to the plans, the building envelope, made of concrete and then further insulated on the interior, likely provides the necessary barrier between the variable external temperature and constant internal temperature. This likely enables the building to retain the most possible internal heat. Further, the windows, in addition to maximizing views of the surrounding urban landscape and providing the daylight essential to the library’s function, allow solar heat to penetrate into the space in a climate that is below the comfort zone more often than it is above it.

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Analysis by Chris Gill + Ethan Odberg ARCH 341 Discussion Instructor: Ponitz

Hunters Point Library Queens, NY, USA Steven Holl Architects

Hunters Point Library Queens, NY, USA Steven Holl Architects

Analysis by Chris Gill + Ethan Odberg ARCH 341 Discussion Instructor: Ponitz

SPATIAL DAYLIGHTING

SUN EXPOSURE

45% sDA

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As can been seen in the diagram to the left, the Hunters Point Library is fairly well daylight in most spaces. In some of the corners there are moments where spaces is never really day light, but most of most utilized reading spaces and access is centrally located in plan which allows these lesser lit edges to be allocated to circulation,

25% ASE While this analysis doesn’t quite meet the ideal ASE percentage goal, the diagram to the right shows that the window placement is fairly successful in creating even daylight throughout the building. The fact that it has a fairly small depth also really helps Holl achieve this goal. Again, the less desirable lighting schemes are on the edges near circulation spaces that can work well with a little more glare or uneven lighting.

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03 SPACE

Analysis by Chris Gill + Ethan Odberg ARCH 341 Discussion Instructor: Ponitz

Hunters Point Library Queens, NY, USA Steven Holl Architects

Hunters Point Library Queens, NY, USA Steven Holl Architects

Analysis by Chris Gill + Ethan Odberg ARCH 341 Discussion Instructor: Ponitz

CE

NT

BO

EV AR

D

SERV

4th floor mezzanine

ER

UL

ICES/

47TH R

5th floor

GENE

OAD

RATO R

6th floor

ING

4th floor

LIBRARY

NYSP

3rd floor

BUILD

SITE AXONOMETRIC

Section A West

A

GANTRY PLAZA STATE PARK

2nd floor

1st floor mezzanine 10’

40’

N

0’

SITE PLAN

1st floor

0’

5’

10’

20’

40’

SITE PLAN9

04 SKIN

Analysis by Chris Gill + Ethan Odberg ARCH 341 Discussion Instructor: Ponitz

Hunters Point Library Queens, NY, USA Steven Holl Architects

The skin of the hunters point library is fairly simple. Steven Holl utilizes a blue-tinted glass and a concrete shell to create a very compositional facade.

Overtop the concrete there is a gridded, reflective veneer that allows this building to become the “beacon” across the river that Holl intends. As can be seen in the render and photograph to the left, the left face of the structure really glows in afternoon light. All of the apertures are meticulously arranged to create visual balance as well as direct light into the building where needed.

This skin is also closely related to structure as it makes up a sort of supportive shell for beams to span between.

Exterior View (NY Times)

Childrens Area (NY Times)

Lobby Area (NY Times)

Hunters Point Library Queens, NY, USA Steven Holl Architects

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Analysis by Chris Gill + Ethan Odberg ARCH 341 Discussion Instructor: Ponitz

30% WWR

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05 STRUCTURE egress stair concrete wall elevator core

This model demonstrates the Hunters Point Library’s complex and irregular structural system. Through a reinforced concrete shell and large steel girders connecting the two long faces, the system suspends over 6 different floor plates levels and configurations. Where floor plates meet large glazing, there generally is lateral support along the long direction to perpendicular beams. There is a single column in the NE corner of the structure and an inner concrete shell to the elevator core. Shear walls are utilized within the concrete shell to give lateral stability. A simple slab on grade concrete foundation is used as this building has a very small footprint and is on a very slight grade. This allows the building to sit neatly in the center of this grassy park.

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Hunters Point Library Queens, NY, USA Steven Holl Architects

Analysis by Chris Gill + Ethan Odberg ARCH 341 Discussion Instructor: Ponitz

06 CIRCULATION

Hunters Point Library Queens, NY, USA Steven Holl Architects

Analysis by Chris Gill + Ethan Odberg ARCH 341 Discussion Instructor: Ponitz

plant vertical chases

ductwork

MEP 6th floor

MEP

4th floor mezzanine

Doorway and air duct (Field Condition)

1st floor

Corner steel framing with air duct (Field Condition)

Through construction photos and analyzing the floor plans, we gathered that the building uses an air delivery system for heating/cooling and ventilation. With two vertical chases on either side of the building and plants on the roof, the building seems to distribute air in a straightforward, logical fashion.

In the pictures shown above, it can be noted that the duct work is comprised of members roughly 1’ x 1’ that travel throughout the steel framed floorplates.

These shafts actually work with the design of spaces as they are co-located near stairs or near “less usable” parts of the project.

MEP

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Hunters Point Library Queens, NY, USA Steven Holl Architects

Analysis by Chris Gill + Ethan Odberg ARCH 341 Discussion Instructor: Ponitz

Hunters Point Library Queens, NY, USA Steven Holl Architects

Analysis by Chris Gill + Ethan Odberg ARCH 341 Discussion Instructor: Ponitz

fire stair

elevator below west experiential stairs east ramps near elevator

Central Atrium (Arch Daily)

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West stairs (Arch Daily)

In this compact project, the circulation is quite condensed and maximizes space.

All experiential stairs are co-located on the western face which provides many stunning views of the river and entices most to use them rather than the elevator on the east face. That being said all of the ramps and more accessible paths of circulation lie on this eastern side of the building which happens to also be co-located with the fire stair (egress). placing the lobby at the base of the atrium, it really entices the user to ascend up, especially by means of cascading stairs washed in a warm western light.

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Hunters Point Library Queens, NY, USA Steven Holl Architects

Analysis by Chris Gill + Ethan Odberg ARCH 341 Discussion Instructor: Ponitz

STORY - FINDINGS

Hunters Point Library Queens, NY, USA Steven Holl Architects

Analysis by Chris Gill + Ethan Odberg ARCH 341 Discussion Instructor: Ponitz

For Steven Holl, it was important to curate unique experiences for three distinct user groups - children, teens, and adults. In the children’s area, the firm provides a two story zone connected by a large multi-use stair, with furniture and bookshelves designed to be accessible to young children. The area designated as the adult reading collection is centrally located and feeds directly into the large cascading stair connecting the first floor to the second floor. The teen space is more secluded at the top floor adjacent to the cafe. Each distinct area has access to the spectacular views across the East River back towards Manhattan.

Children’s area - view (DEZEEN)

For both of us, I believe that analyzing the Hunters Point Library gave us a unique insight into how the unique spatial experience was organized through how the building was described in plan, section, and elevation.

Both of us were drawn to the unique quality of light in the building, the views across the east river, and the soaring atrium that characterize this building. However, it wasn’t until we built the building ourselves in virtual and physical space that we truly began to understand the spatial moves that must have been made in order to accomplish the final product. For example, the massive atrium at the bottom of the building is described by the plans of the first and second levels as well as the section. As we reconstructed the building ourselves, we realized just how “big” each space was (both qualitatively and quantitatively) and started to build our own fluency between the language of measurements and of the spaces they ultimately created. One of the most significant characteristics of this project is purely its footprint. The fact that Steven Holl and his team went with this restrictive spatial move meant that the interior really had to maximize efficiency of space and, we feel that this is what drove much of this project. The co-location of types of egress and the experience up the building felt tethered quite closely to our studio projects as well.

I think that we both will have an easier time designing similar spatial qualities and experiences in our own buildings in the future. This project has shed light into the complexities of each architectural system and how they begin to work together -- often through systems thinking -- to create rich and exciting spaces.

Children’s area - interior nook (DEZEEN)

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Hunters Point Library Queens, NY, USA Steven Holl Architects

PROJECT INFORMATION Hunters Point Library, Queens, NY, USA Steven Holl Architects Executive Architect or Architect of Record: Steven Holl Structural Engineer: Robert Silman Associates Civil Engineer: Langan Engineering & Environmental Services

Analysis by Chris Gill + Ethan Odberg ARCH 341 Discussion Instructor: Ponitz

WORKS CITED

Landscape Architect: Michael Van Valkenburgh and Associates Mechanical Engineer: ICOR Associates LEED: ADS engineers Lighting: L’Observatoire International General Contractor: T.B. Penick & Sons INC Climate Engineering: Transsolar Inc.

ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY Steven Holl Architects. “Hunters Point Community Library. Design Process.” Architectural Design. 2015. https://www.stevenholl.com/online-exhibition

- Architect’s project description

- Process sketches and models

- final concept sketches, models, and renders

- team info “Hunters Point Library / Steven Holl Architects.” September 25, 2019. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/925389/hunters-point-library-steven-holl-architects Exterior and interior photographs

- Site Plan

- Plan, section, and elevation drawings

- Diagrams: Interior perspectives and exterior apertures

IMAGE CITATIONS “The REACH Expansion at the Kennedy Center Opens to the Public/ Steven Holl Architects.” September 6, 2019. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/924359/the-reach-expansion-at-the-kennedy-center-opens-tothe-public Exterior and interior photographs “The Closing: Steven Holl.” October 01, 2019. The Real Deal. https://therealdeal.com/issues_articles/the-closing-steven-holl/ Steven Holl photograph “The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art/ Steven Holl Architects.” July 30, 2008. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/4369/the-nelson-atkins-museum-of-art-steven-holl-architects Exterior and interior photographs “Steven Holl punches concrete New York library with ‘sculpted cuts’”. September 27, 2019. Dezeen. https://www.dezeen.com/2019/09/27/hunters-point-library-steven-holl-architects-new-york/ Plans, sections, and elevations NYC Planning: Zoning. August 27, 2020. NYC Department of City Planning. https://www1.nyc.gov/site/planning/zoning/index-map.page Zoning maps Croton and Catskill/Delaware Watersheds. 2019. Watershed Agricultural Council. https://www.nycwatershed.org/about-us/overview/croton-catskilldelaware-watersheds/?gclid=CjwKCAjw8MD7BRArEiwAGZsrBfvc1i-h1D6JapnWqYtoyPi-Q6m4jyZDk-XrCEvcJznMO3ipqIccCRoCrLIQAvD_BwE Information on NYC water supply + aqueducts Wastewater Treatment System. 2020. The City of New York: Environmental Protection. https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dep/water/wastewater-treatment-system.page#:~:text=New%20York%20City’s%20sludge%20is,components%20mechanically%2C%20we%20use%20centrifuges.

Information surrounding the treatment and processing of wastewater after use Steven Holl Architects completes Hunters Point Library with flowing sculpted cuts in New York. 2019. World Architecture. https://worldarchitecture.org/article-links/ecnmh/steven-holl-architects-completes-hunters-point-library-with-flowing-sculpted-cuts-in-new-york.html Plans, sections, and elevations with dimensions included.

47-07 Center Boulevard. 2016-2019. YIMBY https://newyorkyimby.com/category/47-07-center-boulevard Multiple articles that include construction photos of Hunters Point Library at various stages of production.

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