University of Virginia: Alderman Library

University of Virginia: Alderman Library

At the time of the building's construction, UVA only had the Rotunda Library to rely on. This was not enough for the growing research school, so, securing a grant from the PWA (Public Works Administration), the school was able to build a more comprehensive library that would better suit a research school with many books and other forms of documentation being stored there.

Simeon Washington

https://livingnewdeal.org/projects/university-of-virginia-alderman-library-charlottesville-va/

1937

creative commons, https://livingnewdeal.org/map/

October 12, 2019

Photographs/Still Images (.jpg)
Video (.mp4)

This site was very interesting. Each felt like it had something different to offer. The "first" floor (technically the fourth due to how the building was constructed on an incline) had a welcoming, touristic feeling to it. Going up to the fifth floor, you encounter a lot of filing cabinets. Seeing these made me think about how data was sorted back then and how it has been refined. As you go down in floors, you encounter the various bookstacks the library has to offer. Some of the floors even had these really cool rooms with elegant carpeting and fair lighting that made it feel like you were at an estate. The second floor was the most different looking compared to the rest of the building. It featured a different tiling style as well as wood decorations. Walking through these halls was like walking through time and there are more renovations to come to the building which will help breathe new life to these themes and make the library more friendly towards the teachers and students of today.