half hollow hills community library
2022
dix hills, ny
40,000 sf
library, sustainability
2022, AIA LONG ISLAND
Commendation
awards
Structural: Murray Engineering
MEP: Tietjen Venegas Consulting Engineers
Site/Civil: R&M Engineering
Roof: Watsky
Estimating: Danda
Code: Spiewak
Acoustics: Jaffe Holden
collaborators
a new community library around a landscaped courtyard that balances civic presence and flexible program.
An aging, flood-prone building with no ADA access and high patron demand prompted the community to choose a new building. The brief called for a civic, accessible library that shifts area from stacks to flexible public program, supports creativity and collaboration, and is straightforward to maintain and operate.
Organized as three wings around a landscaped courtyard, the 40,000 sf plan centers on a double-height 'Main Street' that reveals activity and frames circulation. Program is separated by use—community and event spaces in one wing, children’s and teen makerspaces in another—while geothermal and solar systems support efficient operation.
project narrative
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The original Half Hollow Hills Library was over fifty years old, prone to flooding, and lacked ADA access, while patron use limited opportunities for new programs and services.
Renovation and expansion options were explored and ultimately found insufficient, so the community endorsed a complete replacement to meet contemporary expectations for accessibility, cultural programming, and sustainability.
The design needed to accommodate diverse functions—lecture hall, gallery, maker spaces, children’s and teen areas—within a cohesive, legible civic form that feels open and welcoming.
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The design organizes the library as three wings around a landscaped courtyard to clarify circulation and create distinct yet connected program zones.
A central double-height 'Main Street' entry provides visual connections across levels and frames social functions such as the circulation desk, café, and public information areas.
Classical brick massing articulates civic permanence while transparent, modern interiors emphasize daylight, material warmth, and flexible spaces for evolving services.
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The concept is realized through deliberate spatial zoning and material choices: the central wing houses the primary entry and social spine, the west wing provides a separate community-entry sequence for a 150-seat lecture hall, gallery, and event support, and the east wing clusters children’s and teen facilities with an adjacent outdoor garden and maker spaces.
Sustainable systems—geothermal cooling, high-efficiency boilers, roof-mounted solar, and energy controls—are integrated from the outset, and interior finishes were chosen for durability and environmental performance to simplify long-term operation.
project outcome
A central double-height spine clarifies movement and connects the three wings, so wayfinding is immediate and transitions between public and quieter zones are legible. Separate entry sequences support simultaneous event circulation and routine library use without conflict.
Daylight penetrates deep into the interior, revealing activity and reducing reliance on artificial lighting during occupied hours. Glazed faces to the landscaped courtyard increase visual connection and support supervision across levels. Material choices sustain a calm, human-scaled atmosphere for reading and social interaction.
Program zones accommodate varied uses from gallery and community events to maker and children’s activities, so spaces reconfigure for different scales of use. Durable finishes and integrated mechanical systems support straightforward maintenance and steady environmental performance over time.
let’s continue the conversation
Every project begins with listening. If you’re considering a new campus, building, or landscape, we’d welcome the chance to talk through your goals, challenges, and aspirations. Our team works collaboratively to shape places that feel grounded, connected, and built to serve people well over time.
