Seattle Central Library

The Seattle Central Library is the flagship branch of the Seattle Public Library system, housed in an 11-story, 185-foot-tall glass and steel building that opened on May 23, 2004. Designed by architects Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Prince-Ramus, the structure features distinctive floating platforms wrapped in a steel net over a glass skin. It occupies the same block as two previous Central Library buildings and offers underground parking for 143 vehicles. Visitors can explore the library's 362,987 square feet of space, which holds up to 1.5 million books and other materials. Over 400 public computers are available for use, and architectural tours began shortly after opening. The building was voted 108 on the American Institute of Architects' list of Americans' 150 favorite structures in the U.S., making it a must-see for design enthusiasts alongside Seattle's T-Mobile Park.