University

Exterior of a modernist brick and glass library. Two persons are walking in front of it.

Seeley Historical Library, Cambridge

Plagued by environmental issues and a controversial name, the library of the Cambridge history faculty is indissociable from the evolution of Modernism in the UK.
Interior of a modern library with a mezzanine in the centre and light wells illuminating the periphery.

Baubibliothek ETH Zürich

The ETH Zürich's architecture library on the Hönggerberg is a mecca for architecture lovers in Switzerland and abroad.
Exterior of a Brutalist library with a facade of large textured concrete panels between which are narrow vertical slit windows.

Killam Memorial Library, Dalhousie University

Dalhousie university's Killam library is a monolith of knowledge built to inspire stability at a time of rapid change.
Exterior of a brick modernist library, a symmetrical rectangular building with a bay of concrete-framed windows to the centre.

University of Windsor Leddy Library

At the foot of the Ambassador Bridge to Detroit, the modernist Leddy Library marks the University of Windsor's shift from its roots as a Jesuit college to a public university.
Exterior of a brick Modernist library. The words "G. Flint Purdy Library" are displayed in white letters on the facade.

Wayne State University Libraries

Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan is a fine example of an early modern American campus.
Exterior of the USI library in Lugano, Switzerland. It is a neobaroque building with vaulted windows and unadorned stone facade, with a contemporary concrete and metal extension to the right. The modern extension resembles a lattice of concrete elements supporting dark metal boxes. A woman walks in front the building.

Biblioteca universitaria USI Lugano

This former hospice for the elderly witnessed the early years of artificial intelligence research before welcoming the library of a brand new university.
Interior of a Neogothic library reading room, showing a high rib vaulted ceiling and fan windows. Large chandeliers hang from the ceiling. The room is filled with long work tables, on which a few students are seated.

Library of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics BME-OMIKK

The grand reading room of the BME-OMIKK library in Budapest mixes medieval structural knowledge and 19th century engineering in a cathedral of knowledge.
Exterior of a modern library at nightfall. It is a rectangular building with a facade of thin concrete fins. The building is lit with a warm yellow light. There is snow on the ground.

Bibliothèque de l’Université Laval, Québec

Contrary to what it stern exterior may imply, Laval University main library in Québec City opened in 1968 as a future-ready flexible space.
Exterior view of a brick and concrete brutalist library, showing a variety of shapes and forms. A person walks on a sidewalk in front.

Robert H. Goddard Library, Clark University, Worcester MA

Named after a rocket scientist and prefiguring the architectural trends of the future, the Robert H. Goddard Library truly is a building for the Space Age.
Interior of a brutalist library atrium, with cascading terraces lined with planters, in which lush green interior plants grow. Students are working at cubicles. Boxy staircases lead from one level to another. A person stands on top of the topmost staircase and looks at the atrium below.

Scott Library, York University, Toronto

Built on a field and filled with rare books bought by the truckload, the quick rise of the Scott library is emblematic of the 1960-70s higher education boom.
Wide-angle interior shot of a brutalist library. It shows a large atrium with waffle ceiling, three levels of bookshelves stepping down to a floor filled with long tables with computer monitors.

SOAS Library, London

The SOAS library in central London is a remarkable example of post-war British library design.
Burgundy School of Business Learning Center, Dijon

Burgundy School of Business Learning Center, Dijon

Fighting a devastating pest led Dijon to excellence in modern wine growing techniques. The Learning Center of the Burgundy School of Business showcases this unique history, although it only serves herbal tea.
More