Unmistakably modern in a beautiful glass and steel design created by architects Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Prince-Ramus, the
Seattle Central Library opened in Washington’s largest city in 2004. With their contemporary design, the architects aimed to
create an inviting open and airy space, challenging the popular perception of libraries as dark and stuffy. The library was
built with the capacity to accommodate more than 1.45 million books and mixed media materials. By 2008, the library had
finally completed a ten-year “Libraries for All” initiative, which was aimed at expanding library access to a broader range
of Washingtonians. It was the most expensive renovation of its kind in history, eventually totaling more than $290 million
for the project.