Gilbane Joins Land Acknowledgment Ceremony for New Lots Library

Gilbane Joins Land Acknowledgment Ceremony for New Lots Library

• Press Release
• November 2, 2026

New 25,000-square-foot library will create expanded spaces for learning, culture and community while honoring the site's historic African burial ground.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Gilbane Building joined the Brooklyn Public Library and the East New York African Burial Ground Collective in a ground acknowledgment ceremony to honor and remember those who were laid to rest at the site, as construction begins on the transformational new library for the East New York community.

Gilbane is constructing the new 25,000-square-foot library which will provide expanded opportunities for education, cultural programming and community connection. Designed by Model of Architecture Serving Society (MASS) and Marble Fairbanks Architects, the four-story building reflects extensive community engagement and a shared commitment to creating a space that serves East New York for generations to come.

"Positively impacting the communities in which we work is at the heart of what we do, and it's hard to think of an initiative that better represents that ideal than the reimagining of New Lots Library," said Ryan Quinn, Market Sector Leader at Gilbane Building. "The work that's been done so far by the Brooklyn Public Library through continued public engagement has set the stage for a remarkable result that will create a new, community-oriented space for New Lots while also honoring the site's history as a formerly unrecognized African Burial Ground. Gilbane is proud to play a role in making that vision a reality."

Building a Place for Remembrance and Connection

The library site holds deep historical significance. It is part of African Burial Ground Square, the location of a once-unacknowledged burial ground where members of the area's Black community were laid to rest. Following decades of advocacy by community leaders, the area was officially designated African Burial Ground Square in 2013.

Honoring that history is central to the new library's design. A prominent architectural feature draws inspiration from the palaver, a traditional gathering place in many African communities where people come together for dialogue and storytelling, often under a tree. Designed and constructed using mass timber, the feature will be visible throughout the library's reading rooms, collection areas and meeting spaces, encouraging community building, learning and reconciliation.

The land acknowledgment ceremony included symbolic handwashing, an ancestral altar for remembrance, an invocation, drumming and songs. Participants were also invited to sign ceremonial blocks made from the same timber that will be used to build the library, offering their vision for its future.

Expanding Opportunities for East New York

The reimagined New Lots Library will offer separate spaces for children, teens and adults, along with flexible meeting areas, outdoor spaces for reading and reflection, and dedicated arts and cultural programming.

A new home for the New Lots Adult Learning Center will support programs ranging from literacy and high school equivalency preparation to citizenship classes. Additional features include a music room, exhibition spaces and improved accessibility.

The project is part of Brooklyn Public Library's broader investment in modernizing its facilities and expanding access to welcoming, community-centered spaces across the borough.

The New Lots Library is part of the largest spate of library redevelopment since the Carnegie era. Brooklyn Public Library has invested in narrowing a capital needs gap, enhancing branch library design, and updating aging infrastructure system-wide in order to provide inspiring spaces across the borough for all New Yorkers.

Borough President Antonio Reynoso, New York City Council Deputy Leader Chris Banks, and New York State Senator Roxanne Persaud announced government grants for the new Library totaling over $4.5 million.

In addition, the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, is providing $5 million in Capital Project funding to support construction.

For Gilbane, the project reflects a commitment to building places that make a lasting difference in the communities they serve, bringing together the technical expertise of construction with the responsibility to respect the people, history and purpose behind every project.

About Gilbane

Gilbane is the trusted leader in end-to-end solutions for the built environment, with integrated expertise across real estate investment, development, full-service construction, and property and facilities management.     

Family-owned since 1870, Gilbane is one of the oldest and largest privately held real estate development and construction companies in the world. With more than 45 offices, and 4,000+ employees worldwide, Gilbane pairs global experience with deep community connections to empower clients to move from vision to long-term performance with confidence. Guided by values that put people first and prioritize innovation, Gilbane builds trust, strengthens communities, and is driven by a purpose to boldly shape the world. Learn more at gilbaneco.com.