UC Santa Cruz Science and Engineering Library

Completed in 1991, the layout of this library on the University of California, Santa Cruz campus minimized the number of redwoods to be removed, preserving the character of the mature grove. Large expanses of glass open into the grove and fill the open space with natural light. A terraced entry plaza, set into the hillside at the middle of the building’s three levels, connects the library to the neighboring science buildings. The building’s exterior palette complements its forest setting. Copper, left to patina naturally to a maintenance-free green, clads the nonstructural walls at the stairs and elevator and is repeated in simple windows and trim.