Left to right: Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, QPL President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott, Executive Director of NYC Office of Talent and Workforce Development Doug Lipari, State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, former Council Member Costa Constantinides, Astoria Library Assistant Manager Andrew Sparling and DDC Acting Commissioner Eduardo del Valle marked the ceremonial groundbreaking for the Astoria Library renovation (photo credit: Matthew Lapiska/DDC)
QPL, City Break Ground on Astoria Library Renovation and Accessibility Upgrade
Project includes construction of an addition to house an elevator and stairway connecting all levels and modernization of 121-year-old Carnegie library, the oldest building in the QPL system
(Astoria, NY—December 12, 2025) -- Queens Public Library (QPL) President Dennis M. Walcott, NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Acting Commissioner Eduardo del Valle, elected officials, and community members today celebrated the launch of a major renovation of the Astoria Library. Managed by DDC, the $14.4 million project will modernize the building’s interior and add a new elevator, bringing the 121-year-old Carnegie branch—the oldest building in the QPL system—into full ADA compliance, with completion expected in spring 2029.
“This historic library has been a cornerstone of the Astoria community for more than a century, offering generations of individuals from all backgrounds access to knowledge, opportunity and growth,” said QPL President and CEO Dennis M. Walcott. “I want to congratulate the Department of Design and Construction for creating a design that honors the special character of the building, one of our four Carnegie libraries. I also want to extend my deep appreciation to our current and former elected officials for championing a more accessible, welcoming, and uplifting space for all, and to our dedicated staff for their commitment and hard work serving the public in this vibrant neighborhood.”
“Upon completion, the Astoria Library will be ADA-compliant, and feature a modern façade with large, street-facing windows,” said NYC Department of Design and Construction Acting Commissioner Eduardo del Valle. “This $14.4-million project will include a new elevator, entrance ramp, dedicated reading and computer-access spaces, as well as other environmental sustainability features. DDC is starting three major renovation projects for QPL this fall, and we are pleased to have such a wonderful partnership with all stakeholders, as we work to deliver much-needed upgrades to library users all over Queens."
Astoria Library, completed in 1904, is one of 1,681 libraries nationwide funded by Andrew Carnegie in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Designed in the Flemish Revival style, the building originally cost $47,208.09 to construct and is one of four Carnegie libraries in the QPL system, along with Poppenhusen, Richmond Hill, and Woodhaven. Over the decades, the structure was expanded and altered, reflecting the evolving needs of the community. The upcoming renovation will honor its historic character while transforming it into a more inclusive and welcoming space for all.
As part of the project, the existing 8,400-square-foot facility will undergo a complete renovation, and a new 1,100-square-foot addition will be constructed to house the elevator and stairway connecting all levels. The addition will make the building fully ADA accessible and will include a 24/7 automated book return for added convenience. The façade will also be transformed with large perimeter windows to increase natural light.
The interior of the two-level building will be fully overhauled and made ADA-compliant, with upgraded restrooms, a new entry ramp and vestibule.
The lower level will include the main multipurpose room and children’s reading area, with direct access to the rear yard, which can be used for outdoor reading and programs. The main floor will feature new adult and teen areas, while the mezzanine will house adult learning spaces and a second multipurpose room for classes and community events, equipped with a whiteboard, bulletin board, audiovisual system, and assisted-listening loop transmitter.
All finishes, lighting, furniture, millwork, and technology systems will be upgraded to create a flexible, modern environment that supports digital access and community use. Outside, new landscaping and hardscaping will enhance both accessibility and the library’s overall appearance.
New furniture, computers and a self-checkout machine will be added, and the building’s HVAC, mechanical, plumbing, fire alarm systems and material handling systems will be upgraded. Wi-Fi will also be available throughout the building, which is expected to meet LEED Silver rating for sustainability.
An artist’s rendering shows the exterior of Astoria Library, including ADA-compliant features and large windows to allow for natural lighting (Yoshihara McKee Architects/NYC DDC)
As part of the upcoming renovation, two murals—Circus and Grand Finale of an Opera Scene—created by noted muralist Max Spivak under the WPA’s Federal Art Project, will also be restored and reframed. The murals, originally installed in 1938 in the former children’s room on the lower level, remained there until 2003, when they were reinstalled on the first floor.
The project is one of the first DDC projects to start under the new Community Hiring requirements, which aim for 30 percent of construction trade labor hours to be completed by NYCHA residents or individuals who live in low-income communities.
“Libraries are the heartbeat of our neighborhoods, and this investment in the Astoria Library will ensure it continues to serve the community with dignity, accessibility, and a new state-of-the-art design,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Adolfo Carrión. “With dedicated spaces for teens, children, and lifelong learners, plus full ADA accessibility and sustainable upgrades, this project reflects our commitment to equity, inclusion, and a vibrant future for public libraries in Queens and across the city.”
"Every Queens resident, regardless of ZIP code or socioeconomic status, deserves a high-quality library in their community where they can continue to learn and grown as human beings. That's exactly what we're delivering to the families of Western Queens in the form of this $14.4 million reimagination of Queens Public Library's Astoria branch," said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. "This project ensures that the 125-year-old Astoria Library will continue to be a hub of education and community for decades to come and I'm deeply grateful to all our partners who are working to bring this project to life."
“Thank you to Queens Public Library for investing in much-needed accessibility upgrades and more dedicated space for children and families at the Astoria Library branch,” said State Senator Kristen Gonzalez. “Astoria Library has been a great partner in helping us serve our constituents, and I look forward to continuing to partner with QPL to serve even more of our constituents at this location.”
"Libraries are the backbone of our communities," said Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris. "I want to thank President Walcott and everyone involved in ensuring that the Astoria Library will be a place that generations of New Yorkers will continue to enjoy."
"Today's announcement of $14.4 million to renovate the Astoria Library is another example of how the City is making transformative investments in local communities and ensuring that City construction projects create onramps to good paying jobs through Community Hiring," said The Office of Talent and Workforce Development Executive Director Doug Lipari. "But not only will this project help connect New Yorkers to construction career pathways, the ADA accessibility upgrades will ensure that all New Yorkers can access this vital community resource. This is the type of investment that makes our City more inclusive and livable for all."
"It was my honor to support the renovation of the historic Astoria Library branch when I was in the NYC Council,” said former Council Member Costa Constantinides and current CEO Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens. “Libraries are places of wonder for everyone in the community. Whether it is opening a new book to take you on a new adventure, or a class to help you find a new career or pathway, the Astoria library transforms lives every day. Thank you to President Walcott, Acting DDC Commissioner De Valle and my successor CM Tiffany Caban for their partnership to bring this much needed renovation to fruition."
Queens Public Library will provide mobile library at the site on Mondays from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, beginning December 15. Other nearby QPL locations include Broadway (40-20 Broadway); Long Island City (37-44 21 Street); and Steinway (21-45 31st St.).
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About Queens Public Library
Queens Public Library is one of the largest and busiest public library systems in the United States, dedicated to serving the most ethnically and culturally diverse area in the country. An independent, non-profit organization founded in 1896, Queens Public Library offers free access to a collection of more than 5 million books and other materials in 50 languages, technology, and digital resources. Each year, the Library hosts tens of thousands of online and in-person educational, cultural, and civic programs and welcomes millions of visitors through its doors. With a presence in nearly every neighborhood across the borough of Queens, the Library consists of 66 locations, including branch libraries, a Central Library, seven adult learning centers, a technology lab at the Queensbridge public housing complex, a community learning center at the Ravenswood public housing complex, and five teen centers. It also has four bookmobiles and two book bicycles.
About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor Adams’ long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $33 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative and environmentally conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.
CONTACT:
DDC: Denisse Moreno, morenode@ddc.nyc.gov
QPL: Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska, ekern@queenslibrary.org