Half Hollow Hills Library
Half Hollow Hills Library
Project Information
Half Hollow Hills Community Library
Dix Hills, NY
-
New Construction
The new Half Hollow Hills Community Library replaced an aging structure from the 1960's fraught with many issues. The key objectives for the new library focused on:
-
Creating a dynamic community center with spaces for creativity, collaboration and cultural pursuits;
-
Designating more space for patrons and less space for books;
-
Creating interior spaces that are open , spacious, transparent;
-
Making the building sustainable, easy to maintain and operate;
-
Creating a strong, civic presence
The library is organized in three wings surrounding a landscaped courtyard. Its brick exterior expresses civic permanence; its interior is open, transparent and filled with light.
The new library reflects the aspirations of the community: to make a welcoming center for patrons of all ages.
The original Half Hollow Hills Library was over 50 years old, flooded easily, and had no ADA access. With patron use exceeding 300,000 visits annually, space for new programs was limited. Having explored every option from renovation and expansion to new construction, the community overwhelmingly adopted a plan to start anew.
-
2022 AIA Long Island Commendation
-
2022 AIA Westchester/Hudson Valley Honor Award
-
2023 Outstanding Project, Learning by Design
Honors & Awards:
The new 40,000 sf library is organized in three wings surrounding a landscape courtyard:
-
The main entry in the central wing brings patrons to "Main Street"- a double height space affording glimpses of the library spaces above. This space includes the circulation desk, a café, public information spaces and a conference room.
-
The west wing has a separate entry for community functions, including a 150-seat recital hall with a podcast room, a large art gallery and pantry for public events, and a multipurpose room for exercise classes.
-
The east wing houses the children's and teens' libraries. The children's library has a large craft room and an outdoor garden. There is a dedicated maker space adjacent to the teens' space with state of the art digital equipment and a demonstration kitchen.
The building was designed with LEED-level requirements in mind. It features geothermal cooling, high efficiency boilers for heat, solar panels on the roof, energy efficient lighting and controls. The brick exterior and classical forms were designed to express civic permanence. The interior materials of the buildings are modern and eco-friendly. The new library reflects the aspirations of the community: to make a welcoming center for patrons of all ages.