Seattle Central Library

The Seattle Central Library is the flagship branch of the Seattle Public Library, located at 1000 Fourth Avenue in downtown Seattle, Washington. Designed by Rem Koolhaas and the firm OMA with LMN Architects and opened in 2004, the glass-and-steel building is one of the best-known works of contemporary architecture in the Pacific Northwest. Its faceted exterior of diamond-patterned glass and steel is visible from the street, and inside, bright colour marks the spaces. Highlights include the Books Spiral, a continuous ramp that holds the nonfiction collection across four floors, the red-painted Meeting Platform level, the Living Room on the third floor with views across the city and the eleventh-floor observation area. Visitors can walk through the public areas without a library card, and a self-guided tour map is typically available. The library is free to enter. A visit takes between 45 minutes and an hour, longer for those who browse. Weekdays during daytime hours are generally best, as the building is busiest with local readers in the evening and at weekends, and hours are shorter on Friday to Sunday. The library lies a short walk uphill from University Street and Symphony stations on the Link light rail and close to Seattle City Hall and Pioneer Square. Photographers often shoot the exterior from across Fifth Avenue and the interior atrium from the upper floors. The building is a working library, so visitors are asked to keep voices low in study zones. Photography is generally permitted in public areas, though visitors should respect patrons. Restrooms, a cafe and a gift shop are available.