View source for Astor Library Building

{{Draft article}}
{{Short description|Historic building in Manhattan, New York}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2026}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2026}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name                     = New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater
| nrhp_type                = nrhp
| image                    = The Public Theater (48072652481).jpg
| caption                  = 
| location                 = 425 Lafayette Street, [[New York, New York]]
| coordinates              = {{coord|40.728056|-73.992501|region:US_type:landmark|format=dms|name=Astor Library Building|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin                 = Manhattan#New York City#New York#USA
| built                    = {{Start date|1853}}
| architect                = [[Alexander Saeltzer]], [[Griffith Thomas]], [[Thomas Stent]]
| architecture             = [[Rundbogenstil]]
| added                    = 1970-12-02<ref name="Cultural Resource Information System"/>
| area                     = 
| refnum                   = 70000424<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2013a}}</ref>
| designated_other1        = New York State Register of Historic Places
| designated_other1_abbr   = NYSRHP
| designated_other1_date   = 1980-06-23<ref name="Cultural Resource Information System">{{cite web |title=Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS) |publisher=[[New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation]] |date=November 7, 2014 |url=https://cris.parks.ny.gov/ |access-date=July 20, 2023 |archive-date=April 4, 2019 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20190404141934/https://cris.parks.ny.gov/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| designated_other1_number = 06101.000364
| designated_other2        = New York City Landmark
| designated_other2_date   = 1965-10-26
| designated_other2_number = 0016
}}

The '''Astor Library Building''' (also known as the '''Public Theater''') is a theatrical building in the [[NoHo, Manhattan|NoHo]] neighborhood of [[Manhattan]] in [[New York City]], New York, US. It was built in stages between 1853 and 1881 as the [[Astor Library]], which later merged with the Tilden and Lenox collections to become the [[New York Public Library]]. The library was built by [[William Backhouse Astor Sr.|William B. Astor]], son of the library's founder, [[John Jacob Astor]]. German-born architect Alexander Saeltzer, who had been the architect of the [[Anshe Chesed Synagogue]],
<ref>{{cite book |author=Israelowitz, Oscar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3c0RAQAAIAAJ&q=Alexander+Saeltzer+synagogue+%22astor+library%22 |title=Oscar Israelowitz's Guide to Jewish New York City |location=New York |publisher=Israelowitz Pub. |year=2004 |page=86 |isbn=9781878741622}}</ref><ref>New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. [http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/87-ANSHE-SLONIM.pdf "Anshe Chesed Synagogue Designation Report"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512040105/http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/87-ANSHE-SLONIM.pdf |date=2012-05-12 }} (February 10, 1987)</ref> designed the building in Rundbogenstil style. Astor funded two expansions of the building toward Astor Place, designed by Griffith Thomas (1856–1869) and Thomas Stent (1879–1881).<ref name=aia4>{{cite AIA4}}</ref> Both large expansions followed Saeltzer's original design.

The building is a [[Lists of New York City landmarks|New York City Landmark]], designated in 1965.<ref>{{cite nycland}}, p.64</ref> It was one of the first buildings to be recognized as such by the newly formed Landmarks Preservation Commission of New York City.<ref>{{cite book | last = Epstein | first = Helen | title = Joe Papp: An American Life | publisher = Da Capo Press | location = Boston | year = 1996 | isbn = 9780306806766}}</ref> It is also listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris"/>

==Site==

==Architecture==

==History==
===Astor Library===
In 1920, the [[Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society]] purchased the building. By 1965, it was in disuse and faced demolition. The Public Theater, then the [[New York Shakespeare Festival]], persuaded the city to purchase it for use as a theater. It was converted for theater use by [[Giorgio Cavaglieri]] between 1967 and 1976.<ref name=aia4 /><ref>Dimonstein, Barbaralee. ''The Landmarks of New York'', Harry Abrams, 1998 p. 107</ref><ref name=nrhpdoc>{{cite report|type=none|url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75319786 |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration: New York SP New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater|publisher=National Archives and Records Administration |author= Joseph Papp|date= June 1970 | access-date=November 9, 2025 }} ({{NationalArchivesNote}})</ref>

===Public Theater===
[[The Public Theater]] moved into the building in 1967.<ref name="Gray m028">{{cite news |work=The New York Times | last=Gray | first=Christopher | title=Streetscapes/The Old Astor Library, Now the Joseph Papp Public Theater; Once It Held Many Pages; Now It Has Many Stages | date=2002-02-10 | issn=0362-4331 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/10/realestate/streetscapes-old-astor-library-now-joseph-papp-public-theater-once-it-held-many.html | language=en-US | access-date=2026-05-05 | page=}}</ref>

In 2009, the Public began its "Going Public" campaign to raise funds for a major renovation of the historic building.<ref name="Pogrebin j035">{{cite news |work=The New York Times | last=Pogrebin | first=Robin | title=Enter Theatergoers, Gently Welcomed | date=2009-04-26 | issn=0362-4331 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/27/theater/27public.html | language=en-US | access-date=2026-05-05 | page=}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Morrone | first = Francis | title = The Architectural Guidebook to New York City | publisher = Gibbs Smith | location = Salt Lake City | year = 2002 | isbn = 1-58685-211-6 }}</ref> Groundbreaking for the $35 million renovation occurred on March 9, 2010, with notables such as [[Liev Schreiber]] and [[Philip Seymour Hoffman]] in attendance.<ref>Hetrick, Adam.[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/137718-McDonald-Hoffman-Schreiber-Benanti-Attend-Publics-Groundbreaking-Renovation-Details-Announced "McDonald, Hoffman, Schreiber, Benanti Attend Public's Groundbreaking; Renovation Details Announced"], {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101091830/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/137718-McDonald-Hoffman-Schreiber-Benanti-Attend-Publics-Groundbreaking-Renovation-Details-Announced |date=2013-11-01 }} Playbill.com, April 2011.</ref> Plans included a renovation of Joe's Pub; the Pub went on a three-month hiatus during the summer of 2011 to allow for construction.<ref>[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/149362-Joes-Pub-Will-Take-Summer-Hiatus-as-Public-Continues-Renovations "Joe's Pub Will Take Summer Hiatus as Public Continues Renovations"], {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101092149/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/149362-Joes-Pub-Will-Take-Summer-Hiatus-as-Public-Continues-Renovations |date=2013-11-01 }} Playbill.com, April 2011.</ref> The building re-opened on October 4, 2012, after a renovation designed by [[Ennead Architects]] costing $40 million.<ref>Lipinski, Jed. [http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/culture/2012/10/6537985/public-theater-celebrates-end-long-refurbishment "The Public Theater celebrates the end of a long refurbishments"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150202205917/http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/culture/2012/10/6537985/public-theater-celebrates-end-long-refurbishment |date=2015-02-02 }} ''Capital'' (October 8, 2012)</ref> In 2026, after [[Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel]]'s foundation donated funds for a renovation of the Anspacher Theater, that stage was renamed the Barbaralee Theater.<ref>{{cite web | last=Culwell-Block | first=Logan | title=The Public Theater Is Renaming 1 of Its Venues | website=Playbill | date=January 13, 2026 | url=https://playbill.com/article/the-public-theater-is-renaming-1-of-its-venues | access-date=January 15, 2026}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan below 14th Street]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Manhattan below 14th Street]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Ccat|Astor Library Building}}

{{Q|131382414}}

{{NoHo, Manhattan}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in Manhattan}}

{{Draft categories|
[[Category:New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan]]
[[Category:NoHo, Manhattan]]
[[Category:Libraries on the National Register of Historic Places in Manhattan]]
[[Category:Theatres on the National Register of Historic Places in Manhattan]]
[[Category:Library buildings completed in 1853]]
[[Category:Theatres completed in 1967]]
[[Category:1853 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:1967 establishments in New York City]]
[[Category:1850s architecture in the United States]]
[[Category:New York State Register of Historic Places in New York County]]
}}
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