Minneapolis Central Library

The Minneapolis Central Library rises as a five-story wall of glass and zinc, curving along Nicollet Mall. Architect Cesar Pelli designed the structure to capture maximum natural light, filling the central atrium with a glow that reaches every floor. When it opened in two thousand six, the city replaced a dark, fortress-like concrete predecessor that had frustrated readers for decades. Inside, the massive glass facade pulls the street life of downtown directly into the quiet rows of the stacks.