Designed by the New York City architectural firm of Barney and Chapman, the library is an example of the American Renaissance style, which had evolved with the success of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

The Hart Memorial Building was occupied by the Troy Public Library and was constructed in 1896-97 and was at the time, “one of the finest examples of Italian Renaissance.” On January 26, 1946, Dr. Ray Palmer Baker(Dean of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at the time) was elected president of the board of directors of Troy’s Public Library at an annual meeting.

The library received a grant in 1959 from the City of Troy in order to fulfil operating costs.

For many years prior to 1980, the Lansingburgh branch of the Troy Public Library was housed at an old academy building at 144th street and 4th ave.

[3] The exterior west and south walls of the Troy Public Library are constructed of white Vermont marble.

[5] The building also boasts a tiffany glass window depicting the Venetian scholar and printer Aldus Manutius.