Across the street from Temple University’s former Samuel Paley Library (a 1966 Brutalist hulk by Nolen & Swinburne), its 2019 replacement, the Charles Library—designed by Snøhetta in a joint venture with Stantec—is fast-forwarding this North Philadelphia school into the 21st century. The 220,000-square-foot granite-clad steel structure more than doubles the amount of study spaces in its predecessor and improves access to the library’s collection, thanks to a high-density automated storage-and-retrieval system that can house up to 2 million volumes in a compact area on three levels. The facility also has a 24/7 zone with computer stations and a dedicated entrance for city residents.