The new Brooklyn Canarsie Library embodies a long-awaited investment in a neighborhood that has historically lacked public amenities, doubling the size of the original 1960 branch and redefining what a community library can be. At 11,281 sq. ft. across two stories, the new facility expands access to educational resources, technology, and public gathering space while offering an environment that feels open, warm, and unmistakably rooted in the community it serves.
The building’s mass timber structure forms its architectural core. Mercer Mass Timber supplied 83 m³ of Spruce-Pine-Fir cross-laminated timber and 92 m³ of Douglas Fir glulam, enabling a sustainable, low-carbon system that provides natural warmth, tactility, and comfort. Exposed mass timber and abundant daylight creates a welcoming civic interior that feels both calming and accessible. Transparency from the street to the reading areas enhances visibility, safety, and staff awareness, while fritted glazing reduces heat gain and eliminates bird strikes.
Designed by Studio Joseph with structural engineer Silman and built by Shawmut Design & Construction, the new library operates as a community beacon: fully transparent by day, a softly glowing lantern by night. Through early design-phase collaboration, MMT provided design assist services that informed structural connections and enhanced material efficiency. Sustainable features including solar panels, on-site stormwater management, and repurposed materials, further reinforce its long-term resilience and educational mission.
