After decades of being split between two campuses of Hunter College, the Center for Puerto Rican Studies is excited to announce major renovation plans that will unite the Archives of the Puerto Rican Diaspora, the CENTRO Library, CENTRO’s research programs, the CENTRO Gallery, and CENTRO staff under one roof at the Silberman School of Social Work at 2180 Third Ave. in East Harlem.
As an institution that researches, preserves, and shares the Puerto Rican experience, CENTRO is proud to make its home in the historically Puerto Rican enclave of El Barrio and deepen its ties to the local community. The renovation, which is expected to be completed in Spring 2027, was made possible by a generous allocation of $20 million in capital funds granted to CENTRO in June 2023 by New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
CENTRO’s Library & Archives will expand to include larger climate-controlled archival storage, new offices and conference rooms, and more reading and seating areas for researchers, visitors, and patrons. The library also will feature a rare books room, new archival processing spaces, microfilm stations, a dedicated community workshop space, and a permanent storefront for its store, La Bodega, where visitors can purchase books, journals, merchandise, stationery, and more.
Each space will be renovated to honor CENTRO’s place as a world-renowned research institute housing some of the most important research, scholarship, and archives of the Puerto Rican diaspora. Each design was curated and created by CENTRO’s staff in collaboration with the Matiz Architecture and Design firm, The City University of New York, and Hunter College.
“This research institute and our community have been waiting for this moment for decades,” according to CENTRO Directora Yomaira C. Figueroa-Vásquez. “CENTRO will finally have expanded spaces and state-of-the-art facilities for our researchers and collections, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to the new CENTRO in 2027!”
Owing to these exciting and necessary renovations, patrons should anticipate adjustments to appointment schedules and available resources through Spring 2027.
This fall, CENTRO’s administrative offices will be relocating from Hunter College’s 68th Street campus to the Silberman School of Social Work.
From November 27, through February 28, 2026, all physical archival collections and the library will be temporarily closed to the public.
Starting March 2026 through Spring 2027, the Library & Archives will be accepting a limited number of appointments, which will take place in an alternate space and must be requested a minimum of 10 business days in advance.
CENTRO’s Gallery will be closed for renovation starting November 23, 2025, through Spring 2027.
Patrons can learn more about the renovations and explore Frequently Asked Questions by subscribing to CENTRO’s newsletter and visiting the following webpage.
