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Press Releases
April 4, 2016
New York City Department of Design and Construction, Councilmember Laurie Cumbo and Brooklyn Public Library Celebrate Reopening of Eastern Parkway Branch
Renovations to Carnegie Library Continue Century-Long Legacy as Hub for Learning
Shavone Williams
Public Information Officer
718-391-1583
Dan Leibel
Junior Public Information Officer
718-391-1251
Brooklyn, NY—The New York City Department of Design and Construction announced the completion of a roof restoration at the Brooklyn Public Library’s Eastern Parkway Branch on Monday, April 4th, effectively re-opening the 102-year-old Carnegie Library to the public. City Council Member Laurie Cumbo joined the ceremony along with Brooklyn Public Library officials and students from Brooklyn’s Public School 532.
The work included re-fitting and restoring the historical limestone roof in addition to installation of a new roof drainage system. These improvements aim to make the building resilient against storms and overall deterioration due to aging.
“DDC is proud to help facilitate the reopening of Eastern Parkway Library” said DDC CommissionerFeniosky Peña-Mora. “This Carnegie Library has been a space to foster intellectual curiosity since the 20th century and we’re happy to preserve the historical features of the library while ensuring that the building is resilient in the 21st century.”
Students from P.S. 532 - New Bridges presented Councilmember Cumbo with thank you cards for her part in getting City Hall to support the restorations. The Eastern Parkway Branch opened in 1914 and was last renovated in 1975.
“Eastern Parkway Library has served patrons for more than 100 years and is a neighborhood gem, one of the most elegant and stately of Brooklyn’s libraries,” said Brooklyn Public Library and CEO Linda Johnson. “We appreciate our patrons’ support as we renovated this beautiful, historic building, and we look forward to working with city leaders to address the considerable capital changes we face throughout our sixty branches.”
“Public libraries are creative spaces where patrons of all ages can explore their imagination or expand their horizons. The new and improved Eastern Parkway branch will provide an enhanced learning experience to the youth and adults who rely on their neighborhood library for free access to a wealth of resources,” said Council Member Laurie Cumbo.
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 de Blasio’s lenses of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, new or upgraded roadways, sewers, water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $10 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.