A razor-clean I. M. Pei box that makes a Midwestern main street feel suddenly, thrillingly cosmopolitan.
Public library in Columbus, Indiana.
Featured in I. M. Pei's definitive monograph, I.M. Pei: Complete Works.
Visitor Guide
Walk the full loop around the building first—Pei’s best move here is how the volumes ‘click’ together at the corners; then go inside and climb to a quiet upper-level window bay for the most “Columbus” view: civic life framed like a model.
Sidewalk on 5th St looking toward the main façade; late afternoon for crisp shadow lines across the planar surfaces.
Yes—this is an active public library. Free entry during open hours; expect standard library security/behavior rules (quiet zones, no tripods without permission).
This is early Pei doing what he did best: turning a plain civic program into a lesson in proportion and “edge conditions” (the corners do the heavy lifting, not the middle).
30–60 minutes
Design & Structure
Designed in Pei’s late-1960s office culture of tight orthographic control and physical massing studies—less ‘parametric’ in software terms, but absolutely parametric in thinking: a disciplined grid, repeated modules, and carefully tuned void/solid relationships to guide movement.
Brick and concrete/stone-like modernist surfaces (the point is their restraint): the materials act as a neutral backdrop so geometry, daylight, and alignment become the spectacle.
Not a stunt structure—its ‘engineering flex’ is compositional: clean spans and straightforward frames that allow the architecture to read as pure volume without fussy supports.
See Together
Buildings that pair well with Cleo Rogers Memorial Library — they're nearby or share a compelling architectural conversation.
More by I. M. Pei
View all →
Louvre
State University of New York at Fredonia
University of Rochester
Cornell University
Syracuse University
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Nearby in Columbus
Wexner Center for the Arts
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Cummins Corporate Office Building
Irwin Conference Center
North Christian Church
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed Cleo Rogers Memorial Library?+
Cleo Rogers Memorial Library was designed by I. M. Pei and completed in 1969. It is located in Columbus, United States.
Where is Cleo Rogers Memorial Library located?+
Cleo Rogers Memorial Library is located in Columbus, United States. Its coordinates are 39.2040°, -85.9189°.
When was Cleo Rogers Memorial Library built?+
Cleo Rogers Memorial Library was completed in 1969. It was designed by I. M. Pei.
Can I visit Cleo Rogers Memorial Library?+
Cleo Rogers Memorial Library is a real building in Columbus that can be viewed from the outside. Check local information for interior access and visiting hours. Use the Parametric Atlas walking tour feature to plan a route that includes this building.