Temple University Library

In Fall 2018, North Philadelphia will be the home of Snøhetta’s newest library. The Temple University Library will provide a new social and academic heart for the campus of 37,800 students. A variety of study spaces, resource centers, sophisticated information technology, public spaces and event hall will be housed under one roof, establishing a vibrant center for both students and the surrounding community. The design received unanimous support from the city of Philadelphia’s Civic Design Review in the fall of 2015 and is now under construction.

The design is inspired by the historic academies of Greek antiquity, where social spaces for exchanging ideas were primary and storage of written content took a secondary role. Snøhetta’s design challenges the traditional typology of the research library solely as a repository for books and archives, and instead provides a diversity of spaces that will spark chance encounters, enable collaboration, and encourage knowledge-sharing amongst its users.

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