New York Public Library on 42nd Street Gets Facelift

The pride of the two marble lions residing at the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue and 42 Street has finally been restored.

After three years of construction and a $50 million dollar construction bill, the NYPL completed a restoration project of its signature location, just in time for its 100th anniversary later this year.

Unveiling their finished work yesterday morning, library and city officials cut the red tape in front of the made-over building, which shined like the ivory keys on a brand new Steinway piano.

“We’ve succeeded in returning one of the most important library buildings in history to its original beauty and grandeur,” said NYPL President Paul LeClerc. “Its magnificence is a visual reminder of how centrally important reading, learning, and creating are to a vibrant and democratic society. No other city in the world, now or ever, has made such immense collections and superb services freely available to everyone.”

With several budget cuts to NYPL’s operating budget over the past decade, the money for the project was raised by several sources. City Council pitched in $10 million, while Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave $20.6 million. NYS Empire State Development Corp funds gave $17 million while NYS Dormitory Authority gave $0.2 million. Private/NYPL funds contributed the final $2.2 million.

Originally constructed in 1911, the Stephen A. Schwarzman building was a dirty and pigeon-infested eyesore by 2008, when a survey of the building by Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates revealed severe deterioration of the façade, particularly in areas such as the Corinthian column capitals, lion head keystones and scroll modillions. The survey also revealed roof damage, rust on the building’s bronze doors and windows, as well as several other problems all over the exterior of the building.

Fixing 1,145 cracks, installing 18,000 feet of bird netting, repairing and refinishing 345 bronze windows and installing 2,072 mortar patches was just a small part of the three-year renovation project, as 100,000 feet of masonry joints were re-pointed and 38,000 square feet of roofing were also replaced. 2,000 individually carved marble stones were also used to replace the damages pieces, including the chins and noses of the lion head keystones, the six sculptures over the columns and nearby fountains. The building also got a thorough cleaning, courtesy of 200 gallons of Vulpex concentrated soap and high-pressured water.

“The entire team, starting from the architect, and including all contractors, artists and managers, not only represented world class skills in preservation and restoration, but they dedicated their whole knowledge, attention, time and heart to the project from day one to the end,” NYPL’s Vice President for Capital Planning and Construction Joanna Pestka said in a press release. “It was a very focused, thoughtful and carefully executed work. The whole project was a labor of love.”

The renovation couldn’t have come at a better time either. In spite of the common belief that the rise in popularity of the Internet over the past decade has diminished the need for libraries, LeClerc stated that the NYPL had over 40 million visitors in 2010 and showed no signs of slowing down.

“We’ve had more visitors this year than all the major sports teams in the area combined,” he said.

The NYPL also stated that even in the midst of this huge renovation project, they have not forgotten about the smaller communities that depend on their services.

“We are currently doing nearly $300 million worth of renovations at our branches across our three boroughs,” said NYPL Public Relations Director Angela Montefinise via e-mail. “Last year, we completed a fantastic renovation of our High Bridge branch in The Bronx. It is a priority to keep all of our branches up to date to accommodate our growing population of users.”

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn was also on-hand for the event and echoed LeClerc’s statements, pinpointing the renovated building as a symbol of the importance of creativity and literacy in the city.

“One of the most important library buildings in history, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on 42nd Street will now continue to be just as beautiful as it was the first day it opened its doors,” she said.

Check out the before and after pictures courtesy of the NYPR and photographer Peter Aaron.

Photos not in slideshow by Patrick Hickey Jr.