Closing Bell: Coney Island Library Re-Opens

The Coney Island Library re-opened today after Sandy with renovations that highlight the neighborhood’s history, like salvaged pieces of the boardwalk integrated into the ceiling and murals depicting its old theme parks. The Coney Island branch suffered the most damage of the six Brooklyn libraries pummeled during Hurricane Sandy, when five feet of flooding destroyed the first floor. The storm destroyed over 20,000 books, furniture, plumbing, electrical systems and HVAC. The $2,700,000 gut renovation added ADA-compliant features, a new ceiling that incorporates pieces of the destroyed boardwalk, photographic murals of early 20th century Coney Island, and two new public spaces and two meeting rooms. There’s also new children’s furniture, new computers and printers, and new staff work rooms and bathrooms. Westerman Construction and Beatty Harvey Coco Architects worked on the renovations.

See more photos of the new interiors after the jump!

Photos by Brookyn Public Library via New York Daily News