The 7 most beautiful new libraries in the world

beautiful new library
Lorne Bridgman

On April 12, the American Institute of Architects and the American Library Association announced the seven winners for the 2016 AIA/ALA Library Building Awards.

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They aren't your run-of-the-mill nondescript libraries.

For a library to be considered a beautiful new building, it has to display a unique and stunning reinvention of the traditional library design.

And the awards go to ...

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Ryerson University Student Learning Centre, in Toronto, Canada, officially opened in February of 2015.

Ryerson library
Younes Bounhar/Amanda Large

The eight-floor, open-concept building was inspired by ancient Greek architecture that prized a social atmosphere to exchange ideas.

beautiful new library
Lorne Bridgman
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The renovated Sawyer Library, opened at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts in 2014, uses a restored facade that was first built in 1921.

Williams Sawyer Library 2
Peter Aaron

But inside the library, a dense network of walkways, moving walls, and private study spaces emphasizes a modern design.

Williams Sawyer Library 5
Peter Aaron
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Billings Public Library, in Billings, Montana, is a 66,000-square-foot building that uses a continual warm glow from the main atrium to lure in curious minds.

beautiful new library
Bill Timmerman

Opened in 2014, the local community was called on to give their thoughts on the interior, ultimately creating a space that just about anyone would want to spend time in.

beautiful new library
Bill Timmerman
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In Chicago's Chinatown neighborhood, the Chicago Public Library caters primarily to technology-based learning and fostering community-wide activities.

beautiful new library
Jon Miller

The building opened in August of 2015. It boasts 16,000 square feet of space, including play areas and gaming centers.

beautiful new library
Jon Miller
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In Renton, Washington, the Renton Public Library combines industrialism and nature.

beautiful new library
AIA

The effect is an interior that's spacious and practical but also warm enough to spend several hours in on a Sunday. The library opened in 2015.

beautiful new library
AIA
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Minneapolis, Minnesota is home to the sprawling Hennepin County Walker Library, which started as a horse-drawn "bookmobile" in 1923.

beautiful new library
AIA

In 2014, the library opened with a new underground parking garage, bike parking, iPads for in-library use, and flexible spaces for studying, reading, and gathering.

beautiful new library
AIA
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In the 1970s, the Lawrence Public Library in Lawrence, Kansas was a nondescript concrete building. In 2014, all that changed.

Lawrence Public Library
Tim Griffith

Today, the library is a multi-tiered structure made of glass, wood, and concrete that dazzles visitors with hi-tech lounges, quiet spaces, and outdoor events.

Lawrence Public Library
Michael Sinclaire
Design Arts & Culture
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