New York, NY | 2024
At the heart of NYU Bobst Library—one of the largest academic libraries in the United States—Thos. Moser partnered with project architects to reimagine how students engage with space, privacy, and focus.
Designed by Philip Johnson and Richard Foster, the 12-story, 425,000-square-foot structure has long served as the intellectual center of New York University. But nearly five decades after its opening, the ways people study, gather, and access information have fundamentally changed.
Reimagining a Landmark
Inspired by direct feedback from the NYU community and informed by research from the Division of Libraries, the university undertook a comprehensive rethinking of the library’s first floor for the first time since its opening.
In collaboration with award-winning architect Billie Tsien, the redesign introduces a more welcoming and inclusive environment, one that supports individual focus, group collaboration, and the informal exchange of ideas. The design draws inspiration from John W. Draper’s early lunar daguerreotype, a quiet nod to NYU’s legacy of discovery and innovation.
The transformation includes new lighting, improved acoustics, expanded access to power, and a reconfigured study layout—creating a space that is as adaptable as the work it supports.
"The furniture unifies the space and the design and craftsmanship is just what we were looking for. The icing on the cake is that the students love them.”
-Phillip Schmiedl, NYU School of Law Capital Projects and Facilities
A Study in Collaboration
Within this broader vision, Thos. Moser developed custom study carrels in close partnership with the project architects. The brief called for a defining visual presence—one that could provide privacy without disrupting the room's openness. The resulting design avoids rigid delineation between individual stations. Instead, each carrel flows seamlessly into the next, creating a continuous landscape for study. Users experience a sense of personal space while remaining connected to the larger environment. Power, data ports, and integrated technology are embedded directly into the structure, ensuring that modern functionality is present but never visually dominant.
Design Meets Infrastructure
The installation also includes a series of walnut trestle tables designed to support both individual and collaborative work. Each table integrates power and data access, reinforcing the library’s commitment to flexibility and long-term usability. Materially, the use of solid wood introduces warmth and tactility—grounding a highly technological environment in something enduring and human.
With more than 3.3 million volumes and thousands of daily visitors, Bobst Library operates at an extraordinary scale. The recent transformation acknowledges that today’s library is not only a place for research but a space for connection. Thos. Moser’s contribution supports the evolution in which design, craftsmanship, architecture, and technology converge to create an environment that is both purposeful and lasting.
Project Details
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Project Specifier
Tod Williams
Billie Tsien Architects
Products Used
Walnut Study Carrels
Walnut Trestle Tables
Customization
Integrated power and data ports
Concealed wire management
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