Transforming the New York City skyline

By Emma Peterson. 

Sherwin-Williams' Patina Green color and a “wizard hat” shape are making this NYC library an iconic landmark. 

If you walk through Midtown Manhattan, you might notice a newer addition to the area — the roofline of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library. This 180,000-square-foot space was originally built as a department store in 1914 but was transferred to the New York Public Library (NYPL) in 1970. The building underwent a major change in 1978 when an interior renovation project was completed. Then, in 2021, the building had its most recent major update when a reroof project featuring the installation of a unique sculptural, geometrical, aluminum roof that resembles the angular shape of a wizard's hat. 

This roof was designed by the Mecanoo firm in the Netherlands and the Beyer Blinder Belle team in New York. As Francine Houben, creative director and founding partner of Mecanoo, described, “The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library is a powerhouse of wisdom, and its street presence brings drama and magic to Manhattan, visibly expressed with the design of its Wizard Hat.” In addition to having a unique roof, this design is pursuing LEED Silver certification and is the only free, publicly accessible roof terrace in the area. 

One of the key parts of this remodel was the use of Sherwin-Williams' Patina Green color. This was designed to pay homage to the library's architectural history, as it gives a gracefully aged appearance even when newly applied. This helps the new roof blend into the neighborhood’s Beaux Art style, copper-clad, mansard roofs. Simultaneously, the use of a Sherwin-Williams' Fluropon 70% PVDF resin-based color ensures that the library will be protected for many years with exceptional color retention.  

Beyer Blinder Belle’s managing partner Elizabeth Leber added, “Libraries are and will always be repositories of knowledge; but that knowledge resides in its librarians as much as in its bookshelves. Working together with NYPL’s talented staff, our firms strove to meet the library’s needs with an inclusive program, humanistic planning and design, and iconic architecture.” 

This project has been a massive success, among many different awards, it has earned the Best Adaptive Reuse Award from the Municipal Art Society of New York’s 2021 MASterworks Awards. Further it was the 2021 Metal Construction News’ grand award winner and new metal roofs award winner. One of the judges, Steve Dumez of FAIA, explained why the design made such waves in the industry, sharing, “It’s providing a public space, it’s providing a mechanical space, and it’s providing an architectural cap that’s very dynamic… all of it adds up to a pretty wonderful piece.”  

The entire project was funded by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation as a part of a donation of more than $60 million to the NYPL. Anthony W. Marx, NYPL president, summarized what this project has done for the community, saying, “This is the central circulating library New York City has long needed, wanted and deserves. As we all look towards our next chapter of recovery and renewal, it is important that learning and opportunity be readily and freely accessible to all. There is no more important or better-timed civic infrastructure project to accomplish those ever present and pressing goals.” 

Check out the project in more detail on Sherwin-Williams' website!