Brooklyn Public Library, Gilbane Building and the East New York African Burial Ground Collective hosted a ground acknowledgment ceremony to mark the start of construction on the new New Lots Library in East New York, Brooklyn.
The ceremony honored those buried at the historically significant site and recognized the community's efforts to preserve its legacy.
The 25,000-square-foot library is being developed following extensive community engagement and designed by Model of Architecture Serving Society (MASS) and Marble Fairbanks Architects.
“Many thanks to our elected officials, stakeholders and community champions for their steadfast support of the New Lots Library,” said Linda E. Johnson, president and CEO of Brooklyn Public Library.
The four-floor building will feature dedicated spaces for children, teens and adults, expanded public areas, flexible meeting rooms, outdoor reading spaces, a music room and exhibition areas. It will also accommodate the New Lots Adult Learning Center, which provides literacy, high school equivalency and citizenship preparation programs.
The redevelopment carries historical significance for East New York because the site is located within African Burial Ground Square, where generations of Black residents were laid to rest.
Established during the 17th century, the burial ground was neglected over time before community advocacy secured its official designation in 2013. The new library will acknowledge this history while providing expanded opportunities for education, cultural engagement and community connection.
A central feature of the design is the palaver, inspired by West African traditions of collective gathering, dialogue and truth-telling. Constructed using mass timber, the architectural feature will extend throughout the library, creating spaces for storytelling, reflection and shared learning.
The project has received more than $4.5 million in government grants, alongside $5 million in capital funding from the New York State Council on the Arts. Gilbane Building is overseeing construction.
Work is now underway, with the redevelopment forming part of Brooklyn Public Library's broader investment in modernizing aging branches across the borough.
Once completed, the new facility will offer expanded educational, cultural and public services while recognizing the history of those buried on the site and serving future generations of East New York residents.
