Abu Dhabi National Library and Cultural Center
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

A first prize international design competition winner, this commission 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 central fountain, an amphitheater of 400 seats for public and children's performance, and a cloistered parking facility. The design incorporates modern construction technologies, and includes decorative glazed brick tiled arcades and local architectural styles.

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 also includes facilities for receiving and processing of publications and book materials. The library design is based on computerized systems for cataloging, document review, and circulation tracking. The total building cost in 2002 dollars is $56.1 million.