The Hartford Public Library selected a prominent corner parcel in the heart of the Frog Hollow neighborhood for its new Park Street Branch—home to the historic Lyric Theater. Originally built in 1923, the Lyric served the community with live performances and cinema before falling into disuse. Over the decades, the building became a cultural landmark, especially as the neighborhood grew into a vibrant hub for immigrants from Latin America and the Caribbean. During its vacancy, local artists and students transformed the boarded-up windows with colorful portraits, preserving its presence in the community’s collective memory.
In collaboration with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), the design of the new library honors the original structure by matching its massing, height, and materials. The corner volume, conceived as a contemporary insertion, is clad in ground-faced CMU, offering a modern and welcoming presence at this key intersection.
Pictured: Local artists and students kept the Lyric’s presence alive with vibrant window portraits.
To further preserve the site's legacy, photo documentation of the original façade and the community-created portraits were reproduced at full scale and applied to acoustical wall panels in the new double-height Reading Room. These visual elements serve as a bridge between past and present, celebrating the neighborhood’s identity.
In recognition of this rich history, the Hartford Public Library named the new facility the Park Street Library @ the Lyric—a tribute to the building’s cultural significance and enduring role in the community.
Through thoughtful design and storytelling, the new branch not only provides vital resources but also honors the spirit of Frog Hollow, ensuring that its legacy continues to inspire future generations.
CASE STUDY: Park Street Library @ The Lyric - Hartford Public Library
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