New Library at Louisiana State University
A new academic anchor on LSU’s south campus, the Library is designed as a flexible, daylight-driven civic building that brings together learning, collaboration, and campus life.
Designed as a new academic anchor on Louisiana State University’s south campus, the new approximately 195,000 SF Library establishes a clear architectural presence while re-centering the library as a shared civic space for the university. Through its organization, materiality, and relationship to campus circulation, the building creates a legible and welcoming framework that supports a diverse range of learning environments and student services.
LOCATION
Size
Consultants
YEAR COMPLETED
Site plan
The library’s design advances this vision through a collaborative joint venture between Coleman Partners Architects and EskewDumezRipple as Architect, with Perkins&Will providing library planning and design expertise, and CARBO Landscape Architecture as Landscape Architect. Located on the south side of campus, the new approximately 195,000 SF library will ultimately replace the existing facility and serve as a major academic anchor within LSU’s campus fabric.
Envisioned as more than a repository for books, the new LSU Library is designed as a flexible academic infrastructure—one that supports learning, research, and community life across campus. As it moves toward realization, the project represents a long-term investment in student success and a renewed civic presence for LSU’s academic core.
Exterior view from south
Activity Zones for Flexibility
Programmatic organization reinforces clarity and connection. Public-facing amenities and active spaces, including event areas and a café, are concentrated along the primary circulation spine and first floor, reinforcing the library’s role as a welcoming campus destination.
Upper levels balance open study areas with more focused environments, while student success partners and staff spaces are thoughtfully integrated to support collaboration across disciplines.
At the heart of the design is a commitment to flexibility and student choice. The building organizes a wide range of learning environments from quiet study areas and group study rooms to creative studios, event spaces, and informal gathering zones, supporting multiple modes of learning throughout the day. A high-density Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) allows the physical collection to be compactly housed, freeing up significant space for student-focused programs while maintaining efficient access to library materials.
Conceptual Organization: A Path to Discovery
View of atrium from Level 2
View of Tiger Walk through building
Section - Longitudinal View Through Atrium
Expression
The architectural expression balances durability and transparency. A precast concrete façade is punctuated by strategic openings, while expansive curtainwall and clerestory glazing bring daylight deep into the building and visually connect interior study spaces to the campus beyond.
Structural and material strategies, including a steel structural system, support long-term adaptability while contributing to reduced embodied carbon.
Environmental Nutrition Label
Performance-Driven Design
Building performance and sustainability are central to the design, shaping both the architecture and the experience of the new LSU Library. Energy modeling indicates the building will significantly outperform baseline code requirements, achieving approximately 30–36% annual energy savings. High-efficiency systems—including a low-friction, primarily VAV HVAC strategy—work in concert with a high-performance envelope and carefully calibrated daylighting to reduce energy demand while enhancing occupant comfort and well-being.
Beyond operational performance, the project prioritizes long-term environmental impact through material selection and structural strategy, incorporating systems that reduce embodied carbon while supporting durability and flexibility over time. Together, these strategies position the library as a forward-looking academic resource—one that not only supports evolving modes of learning, but also reflects LSU’s commitment to sustainability, resilience, and responsible stewardship of campus infrastructure.