libraries

New York Magazine recently featured the Greenpoint Library and Environmental Education Center in Curbed’s “The Best of the New New York Architecture,” by architecture critic Justin Davidson. The article recognizes the project for its strong connection to place, highlighting its public plaza and role as a welcoming civic anchor at the edge of Bushwick Inlet and Newtown Creek, and positions it among a select group of projects shaping a more contextual, community-driven approach to contemporary architecture in New York City.

Read the full article here.

Marble Fairbanks Architects is collaborating with MASS Design Group on the Brooklyn Public Library’s New Lots Branch, a new 25,000-square-foot public library in East New York, Brooklyn. As the project advances, Timberlab (a subsidiary of Swinerton) and Island Facades are providing design-assist services for the mass-timber structure and the building envelope, respectively.

Through this process, the design team is working directly with the fabricators and construction partners to support early coordination and constructability as the design is refined. Design-assist efforts are focused on aligning architectural intent with fabrication and installation strategies for the mass-timber systems and the building envelope, which includes both the curtainwall assemblies and the architectural sunscreen, known as the “veil.”

Working directly with the envelope fabricator, the team is exploring multiple attachment strategies through an iterative process that brings design intent and construction realities together. To support this work, a 3D-printed model was developed, enabling the team to physically test proportions, spacing, and connection ideas, and to gain a better understanding of how the veil interacts with the curtainwall at key moments. Ultimately, the “veil” and curtainwall will be constructed off-site at Island’s Long Island facility and installed as fully finished mega panels.

The New Lots Branch reflects a collaborative approach to public architecture, bringing designers and fabricators into early dialogue to support clarity, continuity, and technical rigor as the project moves toward construction, which is anticipated to begin in the new year.

We are thrilled to celebrate the unveiling of the design for the New Lots Library. MFA partnered with MASS Design Group and worked closely with Brooklyn Public Library and the East New York community to reimagine how a new public library can serve as a beacon of restorative justice, honoring the history of its site while creating new opportunities for celebration, connection, storytelling, and healing. Developed through a robust community engagement process, the design reflects a deep dialogue with the East New York community about their past, present, and vision for the future.

The new 25,000-square-foot library will replace the existing branch, expanding access to essential educational and cultural resources for generations to come. Thoughtfully designed to foster solidarity and shared memory, the space embodies a commitment to renewal and community-driven growth. At its core, the design for the library acknowledges the historic African burial ground on which the current library stands, providing a new space for reflection, renewal, and reconciliation.

Programming includes dedicated reading and music rooms, learning and exhibition spaces, an auditorium for community events, and outdoor areas for gathering and reflection.

“Public libraries are some of the most trusted places in our city, and each branch library has an opportunity to be responsive to the unique needs of their community. The Brooklyn Public Library continues to demonstrate their commitment to their communities, supporting designs that offer transformative visions for their libraries,” said Karen Fairbanks, Founding Partner of Marble Fairbanks Architects. “Here at the New Lots Library, we hope this project expands that trust by acknowledging past wrongs and offering spaces inside and out that empower the East New York community to grow, to make, to learn, to advocate and to continue their journey.”

By embedding these spaces within the community, the New Lots Library will be an anchor of social infrastructure in the New Lots and Brooklyn community—strengthening inclusion, deepening community connections, and contributing toward a more equitable future.

This fall, Karen presented the Greenpoint Library and Environmental Education as part of the Designing Libraries for the 21st Century Annual Conference. Her talk focused on how the legacy of intense community activism around the environment shaped the project, leading to a design that heals past damage to the site and introduces new ways for the community to focus on environmental justice and education.

Karen joined Greg Raschke, Senior Vice Provost and Director of Libraries, NC State University, on the panel Community-Centered Design: A Current Framing. The panel was moderated by Patrick Deaton, Associate Director, Learning Spaces and Capital Management, NC State University.

As part of the inaugural cohort for NYC Economic Development Corporation’s Mass Timber Studio, Jason Roberts from MFA and Justin Den Herder from TYLin | Silman Structural Solutions presented how our New Lots Library team has been exploring the use of mass timber in NYC. The first of its kind in the city, the Mass Timber Studio was created to prioritize the decarbonization of the built environment by supporting and helping to advance mass timber projects. During Climate Week NYC, we joined the six other project teams from the inaugural cohort for a final public presentation to share insights on design strategies, structural innovations, regulatory challenges, and other key lessons learned. Deepening our commitment to sustainable building practices and thoughtful material use, this project reinforces mass timber’s potential to reshape urban architecture.