Above: Located on the campus of the University of California in San Diego the Geisel Library designed by architect William Pereira in 1970.
Located on the campus of the University of California in San Diego, California is the Geisel Library. Designed by architect William Pereira the inverted stepped pyramid structure is a Brutalist masterstroke. Made primarily from reinforced concrete the building gives the appearance of a weighty, multi-pronged pedestal supporting delicate glass layers. Designed to sit at the head of a canyon William Pereira prepared a detailed report for the design in 1968. Originally conceived as a steel-framed building this was changed to reinforced concrete to save on construction and maintenance costs and this change of material offered Pereira an opportunity for a more sculptural design. The building’s distinctive architecture has resulted in it being featured in the UC San Diego logo and becoming the most recognizable building on campus.
The Geisel Library designed by architect William Pereira and completed in 1970. Click on image for full view.
Opening as the UC San Diego Library in 1970 the building was renamed – after a renovation and update – in 1995 to the Geisel Library in honor of Audrey and Theodor Seuss Geisel, the latter better known as children’s author Dr. Seuss. The library houses the Dr. Seuss Collection which contains original drawings, sketches, proofs, notebooks, manuscript drafts, books, audio and videotapes, photographs, and memorabilia. The approximately 8,500 items in the collection document the full range of Dr. Seuss’s creative achievements. A bronze Statue of Dr. Seuss, with one of his most famous of whimsical characters, sits at the base of the library – as permanent and solid a sentinel as the library that bears his name.
Click on image for full view
A bronze Statue of Dr. Seuss, with one of his more famous of his whimsical characters, sits at the base of the library, a permanent and solid sentinel as the library that bears his name.
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