EW Howell Construction Group, one of the region’s leading education, retail, cultural, government and healthcare builders, announces the topping out milestone for the Far Rockaway Branch of the Queens Public Library. The firm was contracted by the New York City Department of Design and Construction to build the two-story, 17,500-square-foot project, which broke ground in Fall 2018.

Designed by Snøhetta, the new library will replace the existing 8,000-square-foot building at 1637 Central Avenue in Far Rockaway, NY and double the area of library space offered to patrons. The branch library will be clad in fritted glass, colored in a light shade that will offer calm contrast to the hustle and bustle of the surrounding retail and pedestrian areas. The fritting will provide a combination of transparency and translucency that will give passersby a sense of the activity within the library, while giving a degree of privacy for library occupants. A tall transparent glass pyramidal entryway welcomes patrons at the corner of Mott and Central avenues.

The Far Rockaway Branch Library is heavily used and plays an important role in the vibrant community. Less than a mile from the Rockway Beach Boardwalk, the new library will be sited at an elevation exceeding the new FEMA flood zone guidelines and will seek to achieve LEED Gold certification. Completion is expected in Summer 2021.