Admired for its outstanding Beaux-Arts design by Carrère & Hastings and considered one of the world’s greatest public research libraries, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building (SASB) is a beloved New York City landmark and a registered US national landmark. As part of the Midtown Campus renovation together with the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library, SASB will provide more public library space and enhanced access to collections, technology, and staff expertise.
The main design concept is defined by the building’s rich history. As part of our vision for a strategic renovation, we rely on Beaux-Arts principles of symmetry, balance, and clear lines. Analysis showed that many spaces originally intended as public areas were being used for storage or staff rooms. This presented opportunities. The original symmetrical layout has been reinforced and building's qualities have been enhanced. Functions were logically clustered, with active functions on the lower floors and quieter ones higher up in the building.
More public space was created by transforming and reopening rooms that were originally designed as public areas but have long been used for staff or storage, and circulation routes and vertical connections were improved. One of the main interventions with a significant impact on the flow of people is a new entrance on 40th Street for goods, groups, and staff.
By creating an entrance plaza as well, groups can arrive safely. The renovation boosts the spaces for exhibitions, featuring a new Treasures Exhibition Space in Gottesman Hall with a connection to the new library shop in the South Court. The project also improves public programmes and facilities for researchers and scholars, directly connecting them to the stacks and collections. The former Maps Division Collection storage space has become a Visitor Center, looking towards 5th Avenue from the North wing.