Library & Learning Center

---

Library & Learning Center by Zaha Hadid Architects, 2013
Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (Vienna University of Economics and Business)
Welthandelsplatz
Vienna, September 2017

“The external appearance of the building is characterized by contrasting sections of light and dark. Colored fiber-reinforced concrete was used to construct the façade. The two building segments are separated by a seam of glass. The main entrance of the building faces the campus' central square, the WU Stage. The cantilevered roof extending towards the square makes the entrance instantly recognizable. The building's massive exterior is furrowed with narrow, canyon-like divisions and made up of two sections. Once inside, the Forum and the entry area are made to feel like extensions of the square outside. The generously proportioned atrium also serves as WU's main reception area. Wide, spiral ramps and stairways lead from the entry area up through the OMV Central Library, which extends funnel-like through 6 stories of the building. The top two floors are dedicated entirely to the library, where the wide, glass-fronted student work area offers a breathtaking view of Prater Park. The building's interior consists of a mix of self-study zones and student service units on the lower floors, combined with library space and spectacular views of the campus on the upper stories.” (Library & Learning Center, Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien)