Portrait of the Institute of Law library
The law library of the University of Zurich was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and opened in November 2004. It holds a collection of almost 200,000 books and close to 800 periodicals and series. The collection focuses on the laws of Switzerland and its neighbouring countries as well as the Anglo-American legal systems.
Some items are available on the shelves for borrowers to help themselves, while other works may only be consulted at the library and may not be taken out. There is a separate study library (known as the «BASIS» library) with the latest publications and academic literature for law students. There are 500 reading desks spread over six floors, in addition to several research desks, photocopiers and printers.
If there are no desks free at the Institute of Law library, you can find one at another library in Zurich: please see the overview in Treffpunkt [B.]
Facts and figures
| Details of the construction project and library building | |
| Planning phase, construction: | 1989–1999, 2000–2005 |
| Contract awarded by: | Structural Engineering Office (Hochbauamt), Building Department, Canton of Zurich |
| Architect, engineer: | Santiago Calatrava |
| Cost: | CHF 65 million |
| Surface area, volume: | 4,375 m2, 24,000 m3 |
| Area of courtyard: | 720 m2 |
| Domed roof: | 36/15/8.2 m (length/width/height) |
| Height, weight of dome: | 29.1 m, 120 t |
| Library stock and infrastructure | |
| Books: | Approx. 200,000 |
| Periodicals, series: | Approx. 800 |
| Total shelf length: | 5,000 m |
| Reading desks: | 500 (WLAN-enabled) |
| PC workstations: | 45 |
| Photocopiers: | 11 |