Regenstein Library and Mansueto Library, Chicago

Architect Walter A. Netsch Jr. introduced the concept of concrete brutalism to the traditional University of Chicago campus, resulting in the Regenstein Library, which made a bold departure from the norm. The building's irregular massing, slit windows, and vertically grooved facade ostensibly drew inspiration from the surrounding Gothic buildings but primarily reflected Netsch's distinctive design vision. Constructed with grooved limestone, which, from a distance, resembles concrete, the building is often noted by university tour guides for its resemblance to the fore edge of a book. In reality, it stands as one of the world's largest book repositories, highly regarded by its users. In addition, it serves as a popular gathering place for the University's students and houses the Special Collections Research Center, home to rare book collections, manuscripts, and university archives.

In stark contrast, Mansueto Library, designed by German-American architect Helmut Jahn, exhibits significant differences from Regenstein, featuring a transparent, self-supporting dome consisting of 691 rhombus-shaped glass panels, seemingly hovering above a well-lit reading room. Below ground, the library houses five floors of storage space accommodating around 3.5 million volumes, all easily accessible via an impressive robotic retrieval system. Mr. Jahn often characterizes his architectural approach as "archineering", reflecting the innovative engineering that underpins his projects, yet the overarching objective is "elegant minimalism", a goal that the Mansueto Library impeccably achieves, earning it several architectural accolades in the years following its dedication.