Committee for Public Options

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Size Comparison of Renovation Alternatives
for the New York Public Library

Existing Conditions 1 Foster Plan 2 Pennoyer Plan 3
Total Open Library SASB + MM + SIBL 208,000 sf 4 SASB 203,000 sf SASB 243,000 sf
Total On-Site Closed Storage SASB + BPSE 216,000 sf (BPSE x 2) 96,000 sf SASB + (BPSE x 2) 419,000 sf
Total Other Closed SASB + MM + SIBL 384,000 sf SASB 294,000 sf SASB 331,000 sf
Total Square Footage SASB + MM + SIBL + BPSE 808,000 sf SASB + (BPSE x 2) 593,000 sf SASB + (BPSE x 2) 873,000 sf
  • SASBStephen A. Schwarzman Building
  • MMMid-Manhattan Library
  • SIBLScience, Industry and Business Library
  • BPSEBryant Park Stack Extension
  • 1Figures based on plans reproduced in The New York Public Library: Its Architecture and Decoration by Henry Hope Reed, 1986.
  • 2Figures based on plans exhibited at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building in 2013.
  • 3Pennoyer Plan retains and refurbishing existing bookstacks.
  • 4Square footage figures are approximate; rounded to nearest thousand.

Existing Conditions
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

Cellar Park Level First Floor Second Floor Third Floor Building Total
Open Library --- 11,000 sf 41,000 sf 11,000 sf 50,000 sf 113,000 sf
On-Site Closed Storage --- 24,000 sf 24,000 sf 24,000 sf --- 216,000 sf1
Other Closed 105,000 sf 70,000 sf 31,000 sf 55,000 sf 40,000 sf 311,000 sf2
Total Square Footage 105,000 sf 105,000 sf 96,000 sf 90,000 sf 90,000 sf 640,000 sf3
  • 1Includes four intermediate shelving of 24,000 sf each and one level of BPSE at 48,000 sf.
  • 2Includes mezzanine between first and second floors at 10,000 sf.
  • 3Includes spaces in notes 1 and 2.

Foster Plan
for the New York Public Library1

Cellar Park Level First Floor Second Floor Third Floor Building Total
Open Library 3,000 sf 42,000 sf 60,000 sf 30,000 sf 50,000 sf 203,000 sf2
On-Site Closed Storage --- --- --- --- --- 96,000 sf3
Other Closed 102,000 sf 63,000 sf 28,000 sf 54,000 sf 40,000 sf 294,000 sf4
Total Square Footage 105,000 sf 105,000 sf 88,000 sf 84,000 sf 90,000 sf 593,000 sf5
  • 1As of August 2013
  • 2Includes mezzanine between first and second floors at 18,000 sf.
  • 3Includes enlarged BPSE at 96,000 sf.
  • 4Includes mezzanine between first and second floors at 7,000 sf.
  • 5Includes spaces in notes 2-4.

Pennoyer Plan
for the New York Public Library

Schwarzman Building Fifth Floor
(Park - 1)
Fourth Floor
(Park - 2)
Main Floor
(Park - 3)
Second Floor
(Park - 4)
First Floor
(Park - 5)
Building Total
Open Library 113,000 sf 9,000 sf 22,000 sf 35,000 sf 22,000 sf 42,000 sf 243,000 sf
On-Site Closed Storage 216,000 sf 1 8,000 sf 8,000 sf 8,000 sf 8,000 sf 8,000 sf 304,000 sf 2
Other Closed 311,000 sf 3,000 sf 3,000 sf 3,000 sf 3,000 sf 3,000 sf 326,000 sf
Total Square Footage 640,000 sf 19,000 sf 32,000 sf 45,000 sf 32,000 sf 52,000 sf 873,000 sf3
  • 1Includes existing bookstacks
  • 2Includes enlarged BPSE at 96,000 sf
  • 3Includes enlarged BPSE at 96,000 sf
Size Comparison of Renovation Alternatives Existing Conditions Foster Plan Pennoyer Plan