After more than two years of excavation and construction, the U of C's new Mansueto Library is finally ready for its closeup — sort of. On Monday, the reading room will be open to students and faculty. However, the books haven't been moved into the underground stacks yet, and the official grand opening isn't scheduled until October. The reading room looks pretty spiffy, but there are a few questions that still need answering. When the plan was unveiled, Blair Kamin asked if people would bake under the domed greenhouse, but architect Helmut Jahn said that ceramic patterns on the glass would help diffuse the sun. Also: What's to prevent drunken students from climbing up and sliding around on top of the dome?
· Mansueto Library reading room to open May 16 [UChicago News]
· Sneak Peak of Helmut Jahn's Futuristic U of C Dome [Curbed Chicago]
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