Geisel Library - Exterior/Entrance

The Geisel Library was intended to be the cultural and social focal point of UC San Diego.The building is supported by sixteen external concrete trusses, which were originally designed to be inside, but were moved outside in order to increase useable space. This made quite the brutalist facade. The floors are stepped like a ziggurat and like temples of old, there is a mystery inside. The much talked about third floor is basically a plenum space surrounded by open courtyard. The real discoveries are the two subterranean levels which house the study and public areas.