Building within a Building

Building within a Building

This is Yale University's Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, which was designed by Gordon Bunshaft of SOM Architects, and completed in 1963. The interior 'building' shown here is a self supporting, temperature and humidity-controlled six-story enclosure which houses 160,000 rare volumes. The skin of the building, seen in the distance, is made of solid, yet translucent gray-veined Vermont marble panels, which are framed by a gray Vermont granite grid-like structure. I wanted to convey the essence and spirit of this magnificent space and unique environment.