The shell library stands with its overbearing arch. The arch looked compelling from the outside, asserting a kind of organic calm to the flat surfaces in the surrounding neighborhood. The whole building from the park looked like something out of a sci-fi movie, but created a social statement. The concave and large convex shape created three sections of the building that not only defined the materials but also the programmatic nature of the building. The southeast corner highlights the entrance of the building while the other corner is where the book return is located showing how the books are being circulated. On approaching the building, the roof has an overhang, giving the arch height a dramatic effect, with the heaviness emphasized by the glulam tree structures that support it. On the interior, after moving through the vestibule, a person is met with a lobby librarian who welcomes and directs people to start this choreographed journey of seating in private and open areas. There is a large staircase that leads to the sunken level where most of the books are located, and at the center of knowledge is where the real volume of the whole building can be perceived. The structure, skylights, electrical lighting, and bookshelves all cohesively highlight this horizontal flow from left to right of the entire library. Other service spaces like the librarian office, computer areas, and bathrooms are located on the four corners of the floor plan serving as capstone spaces that work cohesively with the beauty of the program.
