Seattle Central Library
4.6 (2,307)attraction
4.6 (2,307)Rem Koolhaas’s faceted glass landmark features a continuous book spiral, vivid red halls, and dramatic interior views.
People
Rem KoolhaasArchitect
Valerie WonderOperator
Joshua Prince-RamusArchitect
Description
Opened in 2004, this 11-story flagship designed with Joshua Prince-Ramus unfolds around a dramatic sequence of vertical volumes. Visitors can ride the elevator up to a 10th-floor overlook above the third-floor Living Room, then follow the continuous descending spiral through the nonfiction collection back down. Shifting daylight and shadows reshape the interior spaces throughout the day, while vibrant red floors double as an intuitive wayfinding system amid generous seating and public study resources.
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