THE MUSIC HALL UNDER CONSTRUCTION A FEW WEEKS AGO AT THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF BRADDOCK | PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

[Updated May 23, 2025: The Braddock Carnegie Library has changed its name to Carnegie One.]

If you go to the Braddock Carnegie Library this week, you won’t have to speak in hushed tones; there’s a party going on.

The grand re-opening for Andrew Carnegie’s first library will celebrate books, community and a 10-year effort to revive a space that first opened in 1889.

“I think we’ll be pretty ecstatic” once the library is open to the public again, says Braddock Carnegie Library Association Executive Director Vicki Vargo. “It’ll be so nice to have everybody back in. We’ve had any number of people stop us and want to know when we will open again.”

THE ENTRANCE TO THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF BRADDOCK | PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

The event, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, May 22, will give the public the opportunity to see the $21 million renovation and enjoy special musical performances in the revamped music hall.

First on stage will be Cheryl Capezzuti’s Puppets for Pittsburgh, which has provided a free lending library of giant puppets at the library, followed by Woodland Hills Jazz Band and Propel Schools Band.

The entire facility has been redone, from the basement that once held a bathhouse and is now a ceramics studio, to the former swimming pool that is now a community reception space dubbed “The Book Dive,” to the third floor that had fallen into disrepair and now houses a print shop and renovated basketball court. All three floors are now accessible with the addition of an elevator.

THE RENOVATED BASKETBALL COURT IS ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF BRADDOCK. UNDER THE LIBRARY’S $21 MILLION IN RENOVATIONS, ALL THREE FLOORS ARE NOW ACCESSIBLE. | PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

“I think before, you were using less than 50% of the spaces available, and now 100% of the space is being used,” says Mick McNutt, a principal with GBBN Architects, which is overseeing the renovation.

The firm was hired in 2015, followed by the facilitation of hiring Jendoco Construction Corporation as the contractor. Fundraising for the renovation began with the Billions Pennies Project, inviting people to donate pennies to the effort. The Braddock Carnegie Library Association secured funds for the Carnegie One capital campaign, which is co-chaired by U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt and Penguins alumni and Hockey Hall of Famer Bryan Trottier.

The building operated with amenities including the pool, bathhouse, music hall, a bowling alley and a barbershop from 1889 to 1974, when it fell into disrepair and was left vacant. A group of citizens committed to its revitalization purchased it and began the restoration. In 1973, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it was named a National Historic Landmark in 2012.

Many have asked about the potential return of the pool space, which was constructed during the 1893 addition, but Vargo says the building suffered too much damage during its closure in the 1970s.

“It would have been far too costly to renovate it as a pool,” Vargo says.

ONCE A SWIMMING POOL AREA, THE NEW ‘BOOK DIVE’ WILL SERVE AS A COMMUNITY RECEPTION SPACE AT THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF BRADDOCK. | PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

The Book Dive pays homage to what the space once was, but it also serves as a reminder for how far the property has come, Vargo says.

“When you think about the generations of when this library first opened, [it] was not available to everybody,” Vargo says. “It wasn’t posted that certain people weren’t allowed, but that was definitely the unspoken norm. It’s important for future generations to know that there was a pool here, the reasons why there is not a pool here anymore, but also know that everybody is welcome in that space now, as well as the rest of the building.”

Vargo says they focused on accessibility, adaptability and sustainability in their master plan. The elevator was a large part of that, as were new windows and insulation, masonry repairs and a new HVAC system, making the entire library climate-controlled and accessible year-round.

The former billiards hall is now the adult section of the library, the former laundry space in the basement will now serve as classrooms, the Fab Lab and Print Shop will reopen on the third floor in the former boxing gym, and the ceramics studio will reopen in the former bathhouse in the basement.

BOOKSHELVES ARE TAKING SHAPE AT THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY OF BRADDOCK. | PHOTO BY HUCK BEARD

“In the 2000s, we were able to hire a staff for [the ceramics studio], and it has since grown and has a following and everybody’s excited to have it reopened,” Vargo says.

There’s also a room dedicated to resources on local history with space for local genealogy groups to use.

The music hall stage has been extended and the seating was replaced; it can now host performances, events and gatherings for up to 500 attendees, with more lobby space and other parts of the library, including The Book Dive, available for overflow.

“It’s a challenge as an architect: This is an historic building; everyone’s eyes are going to be on it,” McNutt says. “You can’t keep all the historic elements because there’s not enough money because we had budgets we had to meet, but I think there weren’t any big compromises that we had to make. A lot of the pieces are still here and being used.

“We didn’t want to take away any of the historic. We really wanted to highlight it and keep it as much as we can.”

The library begins its regular hours on Monday, June 2, at 9 a.m.

[Updated May 19, 2025: This story has been updated to reflect a change in the grand opening schedule and the official opening day in June.]

The Braddock Carnegie Library is located at 519 Library St., Braddock, PA 15104; Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.