By: Kyle Zhu

New York City is not a friendly city for people who need accessibility assistance. The crowds, the small spaces, the hidden elevators that often lead you down the wrong path. But when a lawsuit is filed towards the designers of Queens Public Library at Hunters Point for ignoring accessibility assistance due to their “only stairs” approach, the issue was quickly brought to Manhattan Supreme Court.

The designing firm, Steven Holl Architects, failed to comply under the Americans with Disability Act and the city of Long Island is seeking at least 40 million in damages. The library, completed in 2019, was the target of a lawsuit in the year it was completed, DRA (Disability Rights Advocates) filed a lawsuit against its inaccessibility on November 26th of 2019. The library had many sections which were unreachable by people who have mobility issues, they claim. This includes three terraced levels of books accessed only by stairs, the roof terrace, and children’s multi-level lounges. The DRA also argued that the “stunning panoramic views” were only accessible by staircase, and that the path from the elevator reaching the main areas were blocked by stroller parking spaces.

There was an elevator. The “numerous” stated inaccessible points seem insignificant compared to the 22,000 sq ft of the six story library. The design of the library, however, makes it difficult for accessibility, librarians, and readers alike.

The entire library was designed to look nice, however not at all practical. An atrium was created with curved flooring connecting to the walls, however raising problems such as less space between bookshelves as the building is only 2043m^2 in a six story setting;

The areas were not only hard for wheelchairs to pass through, but for librarians’ book carts alike. Staircases, cramped spaces and curved walls pose a challenge to any librarian who is willing to stock books. Many stopped using book carts and grab books by the handfuls to stock. Book carts would also topple due to curved flooring and minimal space of movement.

The design makes Carolina A. Miranda, art and design columnist for LA Times wonder if the Architects have consulted anyone before designing and creating the library. She says, “A simple walk around the library reveals a structure in which architectural gymnastics have elbowed out basic function — an ivory tower that some will only see from afar.”