Charles Library is four stories high, and the fourth floor is like a "glass box" embedded in the main structure, decorated with gray granite. Located in the main campus of Temple University, on two main sidewalks. The project aims to provide a central library to meet social and academic needs for more than 39,000 students on the campus. The project building is located in the north of Philadelphia, which is closely connected with the local urban artery while integrating into the surrounding communities.

Design and construction process

In the design process, the architect adheres to the principle of facing the public and designs open squares with slopes at multiple entrances of the library, which not only invites the public to enter the room, but also provides necessary outdoor space for outdoor classes and daily gatherings. In the foundation design of the library building, the architect chose split granite as vertical cover to keep the unity with the existing materials around the foundation.

The architect also designed a huge wooden arch structure at the entrance, which directly collided with the cornerstone block to create a welcome at the entrance and exit. The three entrances adopt glass facades, which provide sufficient space permeability. At the same time, the architect also extended the towering wooden arch to the interior, thus forming a striking three-story dome atrium. The atrium is mainly an all-weather public area, and there is also a working space open to local residents.