Celebrated Critic's Campaign to Save NY Library Triumphs After She's Gone

In the last column published before her death, pioneering architectural critic Ada Louise Huxtable railed against plans to irreparably alter the New York Public Library. In response to such criticism, the library has altered its plans.

1 minute read

August 29, 2013, 5:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


According to Jennifer Maloney, "The New York Public Library, responding to outcry over its plans to demolish century-old book stacks, will this fall unveil a new design that preserves a significant portion of them, its president, Anthony Marx, said Tuesday."

"The library still intends to build a new circulating library in the 80,000-square-foot space under the Rose Main Reading Room," she adds. "But in contrast to renderings released in December, which envisioned a vast atrium, the new design will incorporate the stacks as 'a prominent feature,' Mr. Marx said."

Tuesday, August 27, 2013 in The Wall Street Journal

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

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