# The New York Public Library–The End of a Landmark

- Link: https://www.oldhouseguy.com/the-new-york-public-library-the-end-of-a-landmark/
- Published: 2014-05-12T17:50:00-04:00
- Author: Ken Roginski

[⌊new york public library⌉⌊new york public library⌉[In 1963, the 1910 Pennsylvania
Station, an architectural landmark designed by McKim, Mead & White, was demolished.
The New York Times called it:
 **_“a monumental act of vandalism against one of 
the largest and finest landmarks of its age of Roman elegance.”_ ** The loss of 
Penn Station eventually led to the formation of a Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Well now it’s happening again.  This time the New York Public Library is the victim.
The building will remain but the interior of a beloved historic landmark will be
desecrated.

Unless he is stopped, the end of history rests in the hands of this evil architect
from the UK – Norman Foster.

_**Current vs Proposed Library**_

[⌊new york public library reading room⌉⌊new york public library reading room⌉[

[⌊modern library out of place⌉⌊modern library out of place⌉[

**History dies but an insensitive architect lives on to claim another landmark.

**Check out this article which provide the full sad story.**

 * [After Criticism, Public Library Offers Peek at Renovation Plans ](https://www.oldhouseguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ada-louise-huxtable.pdf)

 

## **UPDATE – GOOD NEWS!**

Not only preservationists but people that care and respect history teamed up with
a fight to save this landmark.  [Here is their website. ](http://www.savenypl.org/the-library-of-libraries/)

With law suites and protests abound it was budget cuts that created this miracle.
There are really no heros except for the people that fought for what they believe.
Norman Foster, the evil British architect still walked away with 9 million dollars.
He has his money but America still has its landmark.

[Here is the NY Times story. ](https://web.archive.org/web/20180508173549/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/08/arts/design/public-library-abandons-plan-to-revamp-42nd-street-building.html?_r=0)

For those not familiar with this library, it is quite different from the library
we all know. Books are stored under ground and retrieve upon request.