Irwin Library’s Next Chapter

"The chaos brought on by political turmoil, by traffic, by the population explosion, and by the tremendous impact of the machine, demands that man -- if he is to retain his sanity -- must have a serene background. But with serenity we must have delight; the delight of interesting silhouettes, of waterplay, of variety in outdoor and indoor spatial experiences. But serenity -- physical manifestation of the belief that man can live in quiet dignity -- must unify the whole." Minoru Yamasaki, 1966

(Heyer, Paul. 1966. Architects on Architecture : New Directions in America. New York: Walker and Company.)

Irwin Library has served Butler University as a study, research, relaxation, and inspiration space since 1963. Designed by mid-century modernist architect Minoru Yamasaki, Irwin stands as testament to the vision of 20th century university leadership who envisioned a growing, thriving Butler built around world-class facilities. 

A standalone library building with thousands of square feet for research and study transformed the university environment in the 1960s, and subsequent generations of library leadership have worked to evolve Irwin’s usage over the years. In 2023, Irwin’s 60th anniversary, Dean of Libraries Josh Petrusa led a strategic planning process that produced new goals for the Libraries, including a focus on energizing and enhancing (and hopefully renovating) Irwin Library. Across 2024-25, Libraries staff and faculty worked with a team from RATIO Design to understand current functions and future goals, host planning workshops, and ultimately deliver a final recommendation for a “re-imagining” of how Irwin Library can evolve to suit the next generations of Butler students and faculty.

We invite you to explore the ideas outlined in the study below, and if you’d like to help us bring these visions to reality, please contact University Advancement.

Butler_Irwin Library Reno_Overview-1Download