UAE Public Library and Cultural Center
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Designed by architect Hisham N. Ashkouri as the 1st Prize entry in an International Design Competition in 1976, this building is a cluster of three buildings, a one million volume National Library, a complete 600-seat Auditorium with full performance art stage facility and a Conference/Exhibit Center. The site includes a main entrance court with a central fountain, an amphitheater for 400 seats for public & children’s performances and a cloistered parking facility. Construction was completed in 1982. The design is representative of most modern construction technologies but incorporates local architectural styles and elements, such as decorative glazed brick tiled arcades. The National Library includes a one million volume Closed Stack Collection, Main Catalogue, Circulation Department, Reference Department, Children’s Library, Reading Areas and Research Center. The library design was based on computerized systems for cataloging, review of documents and tracking of circulation. The total building cost in today's dollars is $56.1 M.
