The Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law, Lewis Katz Building

University Park, PA, USA

Photo © Jeff Goldberg/ESTO

Photo © Alex MacLean/Lanslides Aerial Photography

Photo © Jeff Goldberg/ESTO

Photo © Albert Vecerka/ESTO

Photo © Aislinn Weidele/Ennead Architects

Architects: ennead architects

Year: 2009

The building’s sinuous form is a direct response to the agrarian site, the geology of the valley and the presence of the surrounding mountains. Central to the design is the idea that the law library is the theoretical and physical heart of the legal educational experience, the center in which students spend much of their time. The ground plane flows unimpeded, linking interior and exterior space and fostering a feeling of openness and accessibility. Clad in glass, the curving volume creates a constantly changing backdrop of reflected sunlight throughout the day and a beacon of light at night. Within, the library is conceived as a continuous looping circulation system, providing different types of study environments. The building is designed to be LEED certified. Sustainable design features include the abundance of natural day lighting in the building’s public spaces and a continuous planted green roof.