Student Designs for a new Rare Book & Manuscript Library!

Chang_Page_1.jpgGraduate Architecture Students in Professor Vidar Lerum’s studio course took on the challenge of designing a new home for the magnificent collections of the University of Illinois’ Rare Book & Manuscript Library. With librarians and curators servings as their “clients,” and adhering strictly to their stated needs for special spaces to house, research, care for, and celebrate the collections, the students came up with 16 innovative and creative solutions to the pressing need to create a worthy space for these world-class collections. The designs are all environmentally-friendly and all make good use of available space. Now, if only we could get Oprah Winfrey or another amazing philanthropist to realize that the opportunity of a lifetime awaits to put one’s name on one of the greatest rare book and manuscript collections in the country. Enjoy the creativity of our students—and think seriously about the very real need to house these collections more appropriately.

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