OWNER: New York Public Library, NYC
ARCHITECT: Davis Brody Bond, NYC
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Weidlinger Associates, NYC
MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL & PLUMBING ENGINEER: Atkinson Koven Feinberg Engineers, NYC
FOUNDATION CONTRACTOR: Urban Foundation/Engineering, East Elmhurst, NY
STRUCTURAL STEEL CONTRACTOR: ADF Steel Corp., USA, Quebec
LIGHTING DESIGNER: Fisher Marantz Stone, NYC
ACOUSTICAL/AUDIO-VISUAL/TELECOMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT: Shen Milson & Wilke Inc., NYC
CONSTRUCTION MANAGER: F.J. Sciame Construction Co., NYC

The project team for the South Court Building of the New York Public Library addressed the difficulties of the project with the grace and skill it took to carve the lions that guard the Library's Fifth Avenue entrance.

Design, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and construction issues faced the team building this $29 million, 42,500-sq.-ft. facility.

The design had to take into account the emergence of electronic media and online resources. To address this, the New York Public Library developed extensive online research programs. This helped to transform the library into a more modern institution and led the owner to create a new concept it called "transparency." A major objective in the design of the South Court Building was to reflect this notion of transparency. To achieve this, the architect implemented the use of a skylight and carefully chose translucent and transparent materials to reflect and increase the use of natural light throughout the structure. Glass was used to line the main staircase, the wall railing and the exterior walls.

Furthermore, being an addition to a landmark building, it was necessary to create a structure that was not visible from the exterior of the Carrere and Hastings Building. To provide the necessary space for the desired programs, levels were created below grade instead of above the existing building's height.

There was also a need for the South Court Building's roof to be visibly free of mechanical equipment as viewed by the surrounding occupied areas, especially the Rose Reading Room. This challenge was further complicated by the fact that there was no space allocated for the mechanical and electrical systems. Most of the infill space was used for the functional program and the only possibility was to go below the basement floor. This solution resulted in the excavation of rock for the mechanical equipment room at the subcellar level. Because the existing foundation of the main building, sloping auditorium floor and the cost of rock excavation was restricted, rock was only cut to accommodate the necessary minimum space for shaft and equipment spaces.

From a construction management viewpoint, the greatest difficulty was the excavation and the erection of steel within the confines of the existing courtyard and dealing with limited site access. The excavation went down 40 ft., past the footing of the foundation of the Library building. Steel erection was performed by picking the steel up and over the library using a crane located on 40th Street.

Phasing was also key to facilitating this project. In parallel with the construction of the South Court Building was the restoration and renovation of the Wallach Division, which houses the New York Public Library's collection of prints, photography, art and architecture. This involved the extensive renovation of seven rooms in four phases.

The jury praised this project for constructing a building inside an existing landmark and for providing a prominent addition to that landmark, the New York Public Library. They also said the project presented a challenge to every member of the design and construction team and they all responded admirably by building a project that has added to the allure of the city.