Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library

The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library is a Modernist building located on the southwest corner of Yale’s Hewitt University Quadrangle, more commonly known as Beinecke Plaza.¹ A mechanical renovation was completed in September 2016.² The library is notable for the octagonal marble panels that make up its exterior as well as its distinctive boxy shape. The Beinecke’s Modernist aesthetic and cool color scheme contrast with the warmer colors and neo-Gothic and neoclassical architecture of the surrounding buildings.³ At the center of the building, stacks of books lie within a glass shaft, allowing curators to control the humidity.⁴ The partially translucent marble panels allow natural light through while protecting the books from the Sun’s direct rays. On a sunny day, the interior walls of the Beinecke seem to glow.