Hello, I'm Seattle Public Library.

Unmistakably modern in a beautiful glass and steel design created by architects Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Prince-Ramus​,​ the Seattle Central Library opened in Washington's largest city in 2004. With their contemporary design​,​ the architects aimed to create an inviting open and airy space​,​ challenging the popular perception of libraries as dark and stuffy. The library was built with the capacity to accommodate more than 1.45 million books and mixed media materials. By 2008​,​ the library had finally completed a ten-year "Libraries for All" initiative​,​ which was aimed at expanding library access to a broader range of Washingtonians. It was the most expensive renovation of its kind in history​,​ eventually totaling more than $290 million for the project.