libraries

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.

Our feasibility study for the renovation of the Gladys Marcus Library at FIT is complete. 

Located within the Shirley Goodman Resource Center, the Gladys Marcus Library is FIT’s main campus library, offering a variety of services, resources, and unique programming to both FIT’s physical campus and its global academic community. Over the past few months, we had the pleasure of meeting with students, faculty, and staff for tabling sessions, workshops, and meetings, and hearing their aspirations for their new library. The result of these efforts, coupled with a rigorous analysis of the library, is a comprehensive roadmap to strategically enhance the Gladys Marcus Library as it moves into the future. Thank you to the project team, faculty, students, and staff at FIT for your enthusiasm and thoughtful contributions to this project. 

Read more about the Gladys Marcus Library here.

Karen recently spoke as a panelist in the Architectural League of New York’s lecture series, Current Work: Revisiting Branch Libraries. Marking 10 years since the completion of the Architectural League’s Re-envisioning Branch Libraries study, this lecture explored approaches to accessibility as public libraries continue to evolve through the current work of the firms that led the Re-envisioning Branch Libraries study in 2014. Additional panel speakers included Andrew Berman of Andrew Berman Architect, and Stella Betts and David Leven of LEVENBETTS. The panel was moderated by Leah Meisterlin.

Our 2014 Re-envisioning Branch Libraries study analyzed the 207 branch libraries within the New York Public Library system, Queens Library system, and the Brooklyn Public Library system looking at data related to public and social infrastructure, demographics, growth, and resiliency. The study also included a proposal for a new co-development opportunity that includes library space, affordable housing, and retail space. Read more about the Re-envisioning Branch Libraries project here.

Image courtesy of @archleague on Instagram