After an eight-month search, the New York Public Library (NYPL) has tapped Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo for the renovation of its main branch in the Stephen A. Schwartzman Building at 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue and its Mid-Manhattan Library on 40th Street. New York-based firm Beyer Blinder Belle will be the architect of record.

“With this team...the library can be confident we can realize our ambitious and critically important vision," said Evan Chesler, the chair of NYPL’s Board of Trustees after the group unanimously approved the design team Wednesday. The library issued a request for qualifications to 20 firms in February and later issued a RFP to a smaller selection of firms. While Mecanoo has not created any formal designs, they presented a vision for the midtown campus and their way of working to the selection committee.