Sciences Library (Brown University)

Infobox Skyscraper
building_name = Sciences Library


location = 201 Thayer Street, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
coordinates = coord|41.8269|-71.4000
roof = convert|180|ft|m
height_stories = 15
elevator_count = 3
built = 1971
use = Library
architect = Warner, Burns, Toan and Lunde
contractor = Dimeo Construction Company
developer = Brown University
references = [cite encyclopedia |last=Mitchell |first=Martha |year=1993 |title=Sciences Library |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Brunoniana |publisher=Brown University Library |location=Providence, RI |id=ASIN|B0006P9F3C |url=http://www.brown.edu/Administration/News_Bureau/Databases/Encyclopedia/search.php?serial=S0080 |accessdate=2008-05-26 ]

The Sciences Library at Brown University is a 1971 high-rise building in Providence, Rhode Island. At convert|180|ft|m, it is tied with One Citizens Plaza as the 13th-tallest building in the city. The building houses Brown University's primary on-campus collections for the physical sciences.

Completed in the Brutalist architectural style, the building is Brown University's primary science library. Faced with the desire for rigorous expansion but little real estate available, the school's solution was the creation of the first high-rise library in the world.

Clashing with late nineteenth century and early twentieth century colonial revival houses and abutting street-level shopping on Thayer Street, the Science Library is often seen as an imposing and obtrusive addition to College Hill. Architectural historian McKenzie Woodward condemns the building as "overwhelm [ing] everything around it", even comparing it to a Soviet-era Panelák when viewed from its "all-too-many distant viewing perspectives".

Friedman Study Center

In 2006, the first and second floors and the basement of the Sciences Library underwent extensive renovations and were transformed into the Susan P. and Richard A. Friedman Study Center. The center includes comfortable seating, a cafe on the first floor, public computer clusters, and collaborative study rooms.

References

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External links

* [http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=scienceslibrary-providence-ri-usa Entry on Emporis]
* [http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=4427 Entry on skyscraperpage.com]
* [http://www.brown.edu Brown University]
* [http://www.brown.edu/Facilities/Building_Brown/projects/friedman/ The Friedman Study Center]