Expansion
May 15, 2017 By Jason Cohen
Elected leaders and CUNY officials cut the ribbon Thursday to mark the opening of the 21,000-square foot expansion of the LaGuardia Community College Library.
The library, which has doubled in size as a result of the expansion, now houses 732 seats, up from 420 prior to the expansion. The library serves approximately 50,000 students, 20,000 of whom are seeking college degrees.
The expansion involved the conversion of the second floor of the college’s E-Building at 31-40 Thomson Avenue, which was previously occupied by classrooms and faculty offices. Prior to the expansion, the library was only on the first floor, with a mezzanine.
The new floor includes a 5,750-square foot courtyard reading room; an additional 2,790 reading room; a 1,570-square foot media lab; a 1,360 square foot archive room; a video editing room; a recording room; a language lab, offices and 11 study rooms.
The project team for the library expansion included architect IBI Group Gruzen Samton, contractor Stalco Construction, and construction manager AECOM.
“The library expansion is long-overdue for our exceptionally hard-working students, who are striving to make better lives for them and their families,” said LaGuardia Community College President Gail Mellow.
The expansion cost $15 million of which $3.5 million was secured by Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer.
“Our libraries represent the best of who we are,” Van Bramer said in a statement. “And for generations of students to come, this library will be an open door for all looking to learn, grow, and through their own self growth, improve and change our community for the better.”
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5 Comments
I guess the truth hurts the 40 people who dislike what I said.
$ 15 Million for a Library expansion for students that I hear when I pass the place, who seem speak every language but ENGLISH.
Is Van Bramer off his rocker? Libraries were “the best of who we are” 40 years ago. I think we should call them community centers since books are really almost obsolete.
I’m a big fan of the library system and think it’s far from obsolete. I enjoy reading actual books very much and strongly dislike reading on a computer. Nothing beats a book in hand and the services offered from the library are great. Requests are honored quickly and if they don’t have it at another branch they often get it for you by other means including purchase. How book stores stay in business I don’t know.
I am with you, but I am guessing we are both over the age of 40.