Photo: Central Branch of the Seattle Public Library

The Central Branch was designed by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and completed in 2004.

"The dramatic glass and steel structure at 1000 Fourth Ave. in the heart of downtown Seattle was chosen to make the building open and translucent, according to Rem Koolhaas of OMA, the Dutch architectural firm that designed the building in a joint venture with LMN Architects of Seattle. Passersby on the street will be able to look in and see activity on every floor of the library."