University of Benghazi Library
where knowledge restores the future
University of Benghazi Library, 2023
Located within the University of Benghazi campus, the project reimagines one of the institution’s most significant academic buildings through a comprehensive architectural rehabilitation. Following years of structural deterioration and changing functional use, the existing building underwent extensive structural strengthening before being transformed back into a contemporary university library. Rather than replacing its architectural identity, the project preserves the building’s distinctive exterior character, reinforcing its structural integrity while maintaining the familiar presence that has long been part of the campus memory. This approach allows the library to reconnect with its original academic role while re-establishing a sense of continuity for students, faculty, and the wider university community. Conceived as more than a repository of books, the library becomes an open academic hub where research, collaboration, digital learning, and social interaction coexist within a renewed campus landmark.
The project transforms the existing building into a flexible learning environment organized around clear circulation routes and interconnected knowledge spaces. Reading halls, digital libraries, exhibition areas, seminar rooms, collaborative study spaces, student clubs, and social amenities are distributed across multiple levels, encouraging continuous interaction between individual study and collective learning. Multiple entrances strengthen the library’s connection with the surrounding faculties, allowing the building to function as an active extension of campus life rather than an isolated academic facility.
The renovation balances structural rehabilitation with the preservation of the building’s architectural identity. Existing structural systems were reinforced to ensure long-term resilience, while the original façade was carefully retained to preserve its distinctive character and the familiar image embedded in the collective memory of the university campus. Environmental performance was enhanced through targeted interventions that improve daylight quality, solar control, and interior comfort without altering the building’s recognizable presence. Contemporary interior materials, landscaped terraces, and flexible learning environments introduce a renewed academic experience while respecting the building’s historical continuity.
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Information
LOCATION // Benghazi, Libya
CONS. AREA // 31300m²
YEAR // 2023
TEAM //
