Background

• housing an extensive collection of rare manuscripts, early printed books, and literary archives.

• Serves as a major research center for scholars in the humanities.

• Designed by architect Gordon Bunshaft of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)

  • Exterior: thin Vermont marble panels embedded in a grid of granite and concrete, allowing filtered natural light to illuminate the interior without exposing rare books to direct sunlight.

  • Floating Book Tower:
    Inside, the library features a six-story glass-enclosed book tower, which protects the collection in a climate-controlled environment.

  • Column-Free Structure:
    The building's pre-stressed concrete exterior allows for a vast, open interior space without columns, reinforcing its monumental and ethereal quality.

• In 2016, the library underwent a major renovation led by HBRA Architects, which improved accessibility, updated mechanical systems, and preserved its architectural integrity.

• Most notable holdings include:

  • The Gutenberg Bible (one of the first books printed with movable type)

  • The Voynich Manuscript, an enigmatic, undeciphered book from the 15th century

  • Extensive archives of literary figures, including James Joyce, Ezra Pound, and Gertrude Stein.