The city of Cambridge’s state-of-the-art New Main Public Library Thursday, opened for business last week.

The library includes a striking new glass building of 76,700 square feet joined to the restored 27,200-square-foot landmark, designed in 1887 by Van Brunt & Howe and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building has capacity for more than 275,000 books, 90 computer stations, meeting rooms and a 220-seat auditorium. The project includes an underground parking garage and the restored Joan Lorentz Park.

In 2002, the team of William Rawn Associates, Architects Inc., with Ann Beha Architects began a three-year design process that included nearly 100 public meetings. Key participants included an 18-member Design Advisory Committee, the Cambridge Historical Commission, Massachusetts Historical Commission, City Planning Board, School Department, and the Mid-Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District Commission. The project received the largest grant in the history of Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners ($10.7 million), as well as additional funding from the Cambridge City Council to strengthen the building’s sustainable initiatives.

"The city of Cambridge has never before undertaken such an ambitious library construction project," said Cambridge Public Library Director Susan Flannery.

Richard Rossi, deputy city manager and project director added, "This new facility brings to life what a modern library can be, while still preserving and keeping us connected to its precious historic qualities. The main library is the heart and soul of our library system, enabling the entire community at every age, to engage with the written, audio and visual media that can enhance their quality of life and enlarge their understanding of the world around them. This dynamic addition to our public infrastructure will provide untold benefits to our citizens for generations to come."