Design Icon: 9 Buildings by Louis Kahn

Kahn opened up the interior of this brick library with a ceiling clerestory, which allowed sunlight to flow in and colorfully contrast with the stone-and-wood interior. Illumination was a focus down to the smallest detail, such as the teak study corrals positioned in light-filled spots. It's a fitting response to the design committee's brief, which noted that "the quality of a library, by inspiring a superior faculty and attracting superior students, determines the effectiveness of a school."