Loyola Marymount University William H. Hannon Library

The signature design of the building captures LMU’s progressive spirit of innovation in science and technology, while forming an effortlessly recognizable identity for the campus. Beyond the semi-circular building form, phenolic clad bris soleis highlight moments within the building, enforcing the indoor/outdoor balance present throughout the university. Crafting the right balance between illumination and program needs, the façade system filters the daylight, filling the interior with diffused lighting while blocking direct solar radiation. An open central staircase and skylight provide light to the communal spaces from the center of the building.

As the core civic space of the campus community, the library promotes learning and creativity, encourages innovation, and connects people with information which are met through the design’s programmatic stacking. Visitors are welcomed through a circulation desk and a grand central staircase, with each floor dedicated to a variety of uses, from study commons to reading galleries to book stacks. Study spaces on the upper floors provide the best views of the campus and Playa Vista while the ground level contains reference services, a media lounge and a café.