ABSTRACT
From the cold temperate conditions of central Europe, we now move to the hot dry climate of the city of Phoenix, which is the capital of the south-western American state of Arizona. The new Central Library building is just north of the city centre, where N.Central Avenue crosses over the 1–10 Freeway tunnel. With a total area of ∼26000m2 (280000 ft2) spread over five floors, the library is designed to house up to 1 million books. The first civic building completed (at a capital cost of just under US$100 ft–2) as part of a plan to revitalise the downtown area, was opened in May 1995.
