How one world-renowned public library created a unique experience for visitors with Spacesaver

Seattle's new central library is a 362,987- square-foot, state-of-the-art, 11-story facility that houses 1.4 million volumes of books. Architects are coming from around the world to see this spectacular site.

The design team chose Spacesaver to provide five high-density mobile systems for shelving books as well as a unique, stationary spiral book stack that winds its way up six floors of the library as one continuous ramp. A sixth custom-designed mobile system allows space flexibility for a gift shop on the main floor. The store literally ”opens for business“ as mobile carriages spread apart and are locked in place. Then at the end of the day, the store literally ”closes“ and is secured at night.

Translucent acrylic material was used for the top and end panels of the shelving to prevent the book stacks from being a visual barrier. Integrated aisle lights and custom silver metallic paint were also used to be consistent with the design concept.

Storage solutions (design, layout and installation) provided by Daryl Gardner, Spacesaver Northwest, Washington, in conjunction with Spacesaver Corporation. Architectural design by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas of OMA partnered with Pragnesh Parikh of LMN Architects of Seattle.

Learn more about the Seattle Public Library project.

For a chance to win a $100 gift certificate for Barnes & Noble click here. Offer expires January 31, 2005. Drawing to be held February 1, 2005.

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