Harvard Graduate School of Education - Gutman Library

Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

LEED Platinum

Gutman Library has been a centerpiece of the Harvard Graduate School of Education for over 40 years. The last 20 years, the school has seen a dramatic transformation of Libraries as online access to learning resources for research and study which have reduced the need for books to be housed. For Gutman Library, this has provided the opportunity to rethink and redesign the Library to better serve the needs and enhance the Campus life of students, faculty, and the surrounding community.

When the building was first opened in the 1973, this concrete Brutalist Architectural Style Design was considered forward thinking, and won the Harleston Parker Medal as “The most beautiful piece of architecture within the Metropolitan Boston area, built that year.” Over time, the hard edge Brutalist Design of the building and the interiors, needed to be updated. To respect the original award winning building design, we wanted to achieve a balanced approach. The design and engineering were inspired by the idea that the original Architect Benjamin Thompson (deceased) was a collaborator on our team, and that Jane Thompson his wife, as well as an Architect and Friend of BDG, would tour the building after it’s renovation.

The building renovation now delivers new and welcoming building interiors, with a large Café and Dining Areas, Open Reading Rooms, Group Study Spaces, Building Code updates, and greater energy conservation; all while respecting the integrity of the building’s original design. The building renovation received a LEED Platinum Certification.

˅ Project Imagery ˅