LERA was the structural engineer for a comprehensive renovation to the Queens Library Kew Gardens Hills branch, expanding the original 8,660-sf library building, built in 1966, by 3,000 sf. Improvements include new interiors, MEP upgrades, full ADA accessibility and a sloped green roof that reduces energy consumption and manages stormwater runoff, helping the building to achieve LEED Silver certification.

The 1-story structure is clad in glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) panels cast in a curtain-like form of vertical folds. The GFRC façade is supported by a sloped, architecturally-exposed concrete beam that wraps the perimeter and creates a distinctive geometry. Only two columns, architecturally exposed and pulled back, support this beam, preserving the exterior openness and providing maximum interior flexibility.