Officials recently celebrated the groundbreaking of the new East Boston branch of the Boston Public Library, a $17.4M project overlooking Bremen Street Park.

The 15,000-square-foot branch will serve the entire community with more than double the combined public space of the two branches currently operating in East Boston, according to a statement.

"The East Boston branch of the Boston Public Library was the first municipally funded branch library in the United States. Now, the East Boston Branch is on the road to being one of the finest," said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. "This state-of-the-art branch library will bring people together from across the neighborhood, providing not only a beautiful facility, but outstanding programs and resources for all East Boston residents."

The project includes an open-plan community reading room with spectacular views of the park and the downtown Boston skyline. The brand-new facility boasts dedicated areas for adults, children, and teens, in addition to a quiet reading room, conference room, and community space for multipurpose programs. A reading porch runs the length of the building along the park, providing outdoor space for reading, congregating, and using the wireless internet network, a feature of all Boston Public Library locations.

The project is part of the city of Boston’s capital plan. Complying with Menino’s Executive Order Relative to Climate Change, the 15,000-square-foot building is a model for building and energy efficiency. The new East Boston Branch will achieve LEED Silver certification by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). Construction is expected to be complete in the fall of 2013.

"The East Boston community has played a vital role in the development of this project," said Amy E. Ryan, president of the Boston Public Library. "The Community Advisory Committee and other local residents have continually provided valuable feedback services, programs, and spaces most valued by East Boston residents."

The city of Boston’s Property and Construction Management Department is managing the project. The architect of the new East Boston Branch is William Rawn Associates, Architects, Inc., of Boston. The Rawn firm is responsible for a number of award-winning buildings, including the Boston Public Library’s Mattapan Branch, the Cambridge Public Library and Northeastern University Buildings G and H.