Yale Library Translucent Marble

One of the most prized buildings in modern american architecture the beinecke rare book and manuscript library at yale university represents on the most novel uses of stone in the built environment.

Yale library translucent marble.

On the ground floor visitors can see the 1742 library of yale college the first books in the original yale library as well as a collection of incunabula the earliest printed books in the west from 1455 to ca. Designed by som the 1963 building employs 1 gray veined white marble panels wrapped by light grey granite to filter sunlight. The white gray veined marble panes of the exterior are one and one quarter inches thick and are framed by shaped light gray vermont woodbury granite. The beinecke rare book manuscript library closed in may for a renovation that will overhaul the building s mechanical systems and refurbish its iconic architectural features.

The translucent marble the six story glass stack tower and the sculpture garden by isamu noguchi. On july 1 barbara rockenbach started her new job as the stephen f. Work began on the building in 1960 and was completed in 1963. Schroeder director of the beinecke library recently spoke with yalenews about the.

One of the largest buildings in the world devoted entirely to rare books and manuscripts the library can accommodate 180 000 volumes in the central tower and more than 600 000. The translucent marble walls are absolutely stunning to see from the inside when the light is bright outdoors. Gary a few years ago i was lucky to have a guided tour of the library including the giant cube where the rare books are housed. Also at night from the plaza the building seems to glow.

Cloistered by a protective shell of stone the beinecke rare book and manuscript library is one of the world s foremost collections of rare manuscripts. The beinecke library contains yale university s principal rare books and literary manuscripts and serves as a research center for students faculty and other scholars. Established by a gift of the beinecke family and given its own endowment the. Opened in 1963 the library is renowned for its translucent marble façade and the world renowned glass book tower sheltered within a dramatic arrangement resulting from the particular requirements of a.

The beinecke rare book manuscript library ˈ b aɪ n ɪ k i is the rare book library and literary archive of the yale university library in new haven connecticut situated on yale university s hewitt quadrangle the building was designed by gordon bunshaft of skidmore owings merrill and completed in 1963. And large windows made of translucent vermont marble panels an inch and a quarter thick in a vierendeel truss of. Gates 68 university librarian.