Design

The Weird and Wonderful Library That Nearly Ruined its Architect

A central library in Niagara Falls, New York, survived a decade of water damage and related legal battles. But Paul Rudolph’s career was never the same.
Mark Byrnes/CityLab

Water flows relentlessly up the Niagara River before crashing down into Niagara Falls, attracting millions of tourists from around the world every year. Two miles away, water nearly did in a public library before it opened, and an architect at the peak of his career.

The early 20th century was good to Niagara Falls, New York. Cheap power and land attracted chemical and manufacturing companies, leading to decade-over-decade growth. By 1960, its population had reached over 100,000—about 80,000 more than it started with in 1900. With all that growth came a need for more services, including a bigger central library. Like so many Northeast U.S. cities hoping to use architecture to announce a strong postwar government and faith in humanity, Niagara Falls called on Paul Rudolph.