The Sciences Library, nicknamed the "SciLi" (pronounced “sigh-lie”), at Brown University is a high-rise building in Providence, Rhode Island built in 1971 in the Brutalist style. At 180 feet (55 m), it is tied with One Citizens Plaza as the 16th-tallest building in the city. The building houses Brown University's primary on-campus collections that support study and research in the fields of Medicine, Psychology, Neural Science, Environmental Science, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, and Pure and Applied Mathematics. SciLi is also the home of the Science Center, the Writing Center, the Center for Language Studies, the Map Collection, the Interlibrary Loan office, and the Friedman Study Center. SciLi is one of five on-campus libraries which make up the University Library.
In the late 1960s, the school was faced with the desire for vigorous expansion but had little real estate available, and the high-rise library was the school's solution. Along with the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library (completed in 1964), the Graduate Center (completed in 1968), and the List Art Building (1971), it is one of four notable examples of brutalist architecture at Brown. The building was designed by Warner Burns Toan & Lunde architects, primarily by M. Rosaria Piomelli and Danforth Toan.[2] The Sciences Library was built in 1971 during the height of a wave of brutalist architecture in the United States, opening three years after Boston City Hall (1968), one year after the Geisel Library (1970), and one year before Carney Library at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (1971). Classical High School in Providence was also completed in 1970 in a brutalist style.
Clashing with late 19th century and early 20th century colonial revival houses and abutting street-level shopping on Thayer Street, the Sciences Library is often seen as an imposing and obtrusive addition to College Hill by critics who supported the 2016 demolition of the Fogarty Building, one of Rhode Island's few examples of brutalist architecture.[3] Architectural historian McKenzie Woodward condemns the building as "overwhelm[ing] everything around it", even comparing it to a Soviet-era Panelák when viewed from its "all-too-many distant viewing perspectives". Proponents of brutalism assert that it is the world's most endangered architectural style[4] and, given the loss of dozens of significant brutalist buildings in the US in the twenty-first century, the Sciences Library is a rare surviving example.[5]
A 100-foot radio tower, erected in 1972, was removed from the building in 2005.[6]
Friedman Study Centeredit
In 2006, the first and second floors and the basement of the Sciences Library underwent extensive renovations and were transformed into the Susan P. and Richard A. Friedman Study Center. The center includes a variety of seating, a cafe on the first floor, new computer clusters, and collaborative study rooms. This renovation was designed by Architecture Research Office, and structurally engineered by Leslie E. Robertson Associates.
Science Centeredit
In 2010, the third floor was renovated to create the "Science Center", a facility that supports teaching and learning in the sciences. The Center houses academic mentoring and support programs and serves as the campus clearinghouse for information about research and fellowship opportunities at Brown and around the world.
^"Important Buildings We Lost in 2015". Bloomberg.com. 30 December 2015.
^"100-foot tower removed from top of SciLi". Brown Daily Herald. 20 October 2005. Retrieved 4 March 2012.
Further readingedit
Woodward, William McKenzie (2003). Guide to Providence Architecture (1st ed.). Providence, RI: Providence Preservation Society. p. 170. ISBN0-9742847-0-X.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sciences Library (Brown University).
External linksedit
Brown University
The Friedman Study Center
The Science Center
New Library Buildings Part VI: Sciences Library, Brown University (pdf)
January 01, 1970
sciences, library, brown, university, sciences, library, nicknamed, scili, pronounced, sigh, brown, university, high, rise, building, providence, rhode, island, built, 1971, brutalist, style, feet, tied, with, citizens, plaza, 16th, tallest, building, city, bu. The Sciences Library nicknamed the SciLi pronounced sigh lie at Brown University is a high rise building in Providence Rhode Island built in 1971 in the Brutalist style At 180 feet 55 m it is tied with One Citizens Plaza as the 16th tallest building in the city The building houses Brown University s primary on campus collections that support study and research in the fields of Medicine Psychology Neural Science Environmental Science Biology Chemistry Geology Physics Engineering Computer Science and Pure and Applied Mathematics SciLi is also the home of the Science Center the Writing Center the Center for Language Studies the Map Collection the Interlibrary Loan office and the Friedman Study Center SciLi is one of five on campus libraries which make up the University Library Sciences LibraryGeneral informationTypeLibraryArchitectural styleBrutalistLocation201 Thayer Street Providence Rhode Island United StatesCoordinates41 49 37 N 71 24 00 W 41 8269 N 71 4000 W 41 8269 71 4000Completed1971HeightRoof180 feet 55 m Technical detailsFloor count15Lifts elevators4Design and constructionArchitect s Warner Burns Toan amp LundeDeveloperBrown UniversityMain contractorDimeo Construction CompanyReferences 1 Contents 1 Architecture 2 Friedman Study Center 3 Science Center 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksArchitecture editIn the late 1960s the school was faced with the desire for vigorous expansion but had little real estate available and the high rise library was the school s solution Along with the John D Rockefeller Jr Library completed in 1964 the Graduate Center completed in 1968 and the List Art Building 1971 it is one of four notable examples of brutalist architecture at Brown The building was designed by Warner Burns Toan amp Lunde architects primarily by M Rosaria Piomelli and Danforth Toan 2 The Sciences Library was built in 1971 during the height of a wave of brutalist architecture in the United States opening three years after Boston City Hall 1968 one year after the Geisel Library 1970 and one year before Carney Library at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 1971 Classical High School in Providence was also completed in 1970 in a brutalist style Clashing with late 19th century and early 20th century colonial revival houses and abutting street level shopping on Thayer Street the Sciences Library is often seen as an imposing and obtrusive addition to College Hill by critics who supported the 2016 demolition of the Fogarty Building one of Rhode Island s few examples of brutalist architecture 3 Architectural historian McKenzie Woodward condemns the building as overwhelm ing everything around it even comparing it to a Soviet era Panelak when viewed from its all too many distant viewing perspectives Proponents of brutalism assert that it is the world s most endangered architectural style 4 and given the loss of dozens of significant brutalist buildings in the US in the twenty first century the Sciences Library is a rare surviving example 5 A 100 foot radio tower erected in 1972 was removed from the building in 2005 6 Friedman Study Center editIn 2006 the first and second floors and the basement of the Sciences Library underwent extensive renovations and were transformed into the Susan P and Richard A Friedman Study Center The center includes a variety of seating a cafe on the first floor new computer clusters and collaborative study rooms This renovation was designed by Architecture Research Office and structurally engineered by Leslie E Robertson Associates Science Center editIn 2010 the third floor was renovated to create the Science Center a facility that supports teaching and learning in the sciences The Center houses academic mentoring and support programs and serves as the campus clearinghouse for information about research and fellowship opportunities at Brown and around the world See also editList of libraries in Rhode IslandReferences edit Mitchell Martha 1993 Sciences Library Encyclopedia Brunoniana Providence RI Brown University Library ASIN B0006P9F3C Retrieved 2008 05 26 Tribute Danforth W Toan 1918 2013 Time s up for the Brutalist Fogarty building in downtown Providence SOSBrutalism Important Buildings We Lost in 2015 Bloomberg com 30 December 2015 100 foot tower removed from top of SciLi Brown Daily Herald 20 October 2005 Retrieved 4 March 2012 Further reading edit Woodward William McKenzie 2003 Guide to Providence Architecture 1st ed Providence RI Providence Preservation Society p 170 ISBN 0 9742847 0 X nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sciences Library Brown University External links editEntry on Emporis Brown University The Friedman Study Center The Science Center New Library Buildings Part VI Sciences Library Brown University pdf Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sciences Library Brown University amp oldid 1111026668, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
