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The Athenaeum of Philadelphia

Metadata

Title

The Athenaeum of Philadelphia

Creator

Germain, Daniel

Location

Chicago, IL, USA

Date Created

2014

Call Number

005-LF-P013

Category

Professional

Project Assumption

Library Focus
The Athenaeum will become the world leader in architectural research by offering a unique assemblage of analog and digital materials that can be viewed simultaneously.

Special Collection
Physical 3D models can be printed with extreme precision and economy. These models are equipped with electronic sensors that allow projected overlays of building systems. The Athenaeum has printed over 700 of these sophisticated models.

Special Technology
Tech companies have created virtual walkthroughs of all existing and historic buildings. The Athenaeum has acquired these walkthroughs, linked them to models, books, and drawings, and created 20 virtual theaters for their review.

Project Statement

Program Story
Researchers move throughout the library retrieving books from the Monumental Book Wall, models from the exterior Model Skin, and drawings from the Analog Stacks. The items are then reviewed simultaneously in the virtual theaters of the Digital Hive, creating a unique and comprehensive study of architecture.

Design Story
The building is defined by a diagonal cut that separates the analog from the digital theater programs and provides a continuous cascading community reading room accessed through a compressed circulation/service zone. An exterior skin of circular niches wraps the building in a continuous display case for architectural models.

Registration Number

46151652