A group of people sitting at a table with laptops.
A room with windows and people sitting at tables.
A group of people sitting at tables.
A group of people sitting at a table.
A man and a woman looking at a large piece of art.
A building with trees and plants in front of it.
A group of people sitting at tables in a large room with large windows.
Graphical user interface, map.
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University of Pennsylvania Moelis Family Grand Reading Room

The University of Pennsylvania’s new Moelis Family Grand Reading Room at the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center creates an inspiring space for focused study. The design creates a refuge for contemplation and respects the modernist tradition of the building while taking advantage of its double-height fenestration, allowing sunlight to illuminate the space while providing campus views. It is visually connected to the surrounding landscape and adds a new functional layer, acoustically separated but connected to the larger library. The project’s main intervention is a monumental hand-made wool-and-silk mural by world-renowned artist Claudy Jongstra. Installed as a triptych, this acoustical tapestry is three separate murals that together allude to creativity, knowledge and wisdom.