Geisel Library

Geisel Library
Geisel Library
Former names	Central Library, University Library
General information
Architectural style	Brutalist / Futurist
Town or city	San Diego, California
Country	United States of America
Coordinates	32°52′52″N 117°14′16″W / 32.88116°N 117.237651°W
Construction started	1968
Completed	1970
Renovated	1993
Cost	$5.12 million
Client	University of California San Diego
Height	110 ft.
Dimensions
Diameter	200 ft.
Technical details
Structural system	Reinforced concrete
Floor count	8
Design and construction
Architect(s)	William L. Pereira & Associates
Structural engineer	Brandow & Johnston
Services engineer	Frumhoff & Cohen (electrical); J.L. Hengstler & Associates (mechanical)
Main contractor	Nielsen Construction; Swinerton Builders

Geisel Library is the main library building of the University of California, San Diego. It is named in honor of Audrey and Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as children's author Dr. Seuss. The building's distinctive architecture, described as occupying "a fascinating nexus between brutalism and futurism",^[1] has resulted in its being featured in the UC San Diego logo and becoming the most recognizable building on campus.

The library was designed by William Pereira and opened in 1970 as the Central Library. It was renovated in 1993 and rededicated as the University Library Building, and renamed Geisel Library in 1995.^[2] The UC San Diego Library consists of Geisel Library and the Sally T. WongAvery Library, with off-campus locations at Scripps Archives and Library Annex, the Trade Street Storage Annex, and the UC Southern Regional Library Facility.

Geisel Library is located in the center of the UC San Diego campus. It houses over 7 million volumes to support the educational and research objectives of the university. It also contains the Mandeville Special Collections and Archives, which houses the Dr. Seuss Collection, which contains original drawings, sketches, proofs, notebooks, manuscript drafts, books, audio and videotapes, photographs, and memorabilia.^[3] The approximately 8,500 items in the collection document the full range of Dr. Seuss's creative achievements, beginning in 1919 with his high school activities and ending with his death in 1991. The head of the library system is designated the Audrey Geisel University Librarian, currently Erik T. Mitchell.^[4]

^ Langdon, David. "AD Classics: Geisel Library / William L. Pereira & Associates". ArchDaily. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
^ "About the Geisel Building". About the Libraries. UCSD Libraries. Archived from the original on 2014-01-02. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
^ Cite error: The named reference Seuss was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Kolupailo, Nikki (February 27, 2018). "UC San Diego Names Erik T. Mitchell New Audrey Geisel University Librarian". UCSD News. Retrieved 28 February 2018.

[adgeisel-1] Langdon, David. "AD Classics: Geisel Library / William L. Pereira & Associates". ArchDaily. Retrieved 11 November 2014.

[Library-2] "About the Geisel Building". About the Libraries. UCSD Libraries. Archived from the original on 2014-01-02. Retrieved 2008-06-16.

[Seuss-3] Cite error: The named reference Seuss was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[4] Kolupailo, Nikki (February 27, 2018). "UC San Diego Names Erik T. Mitchell New Audrey Geisel University Librarian". UCSD News. Retrieved 28 February 2018.

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