Gould Memorial Library Restoration,
Bronx Community College

The Gould Memorial Library, designed by McKim, Mead & White for New York University and completed in 1900, is the centerpiece of today’s Bronx Community College, the first college campus designated a National Historic Landmark. The library had suffered from minimal maintenance since the 1970s, and, by the early 2000s, chronic water infiltration through the roofs and upper walls threatened the integrity of its structure and interior finishes. To preserve the structure, BBB arrested water ingress, repaired and reconstructed historic masonry, upgraded roofing systems, improved the lighting of the monumental rotunda, and simplified maintenance access, while sensitively restoring and replacing the dome’s deteriorating roof and copper ornament. Maintaining the eclectic classical-revival style was crucial, and BBB ensured the rich material palette—including the stamped copper roofing, custom Roman brick, and Greek-style clay tile—and intricate detailing were restored to their original glory. The restoration not only secured the exterior of this National Historic Landmark, but also prepared this well-loved community icon for revitalization and future use.

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