Chinatown Branch

🏢 Chicago Public Library — Chicago, Illinois

Chinatown Branch

An award-winning, pebble-shaped library whose triangular form and daylit two-story atrium were shaped by feng shui principles.

📞 (312) 747-8013🌐 chipublib.org

🕑 Library Hours

Monday 12 PM – 8 PM
Tuesday 10 AM – 6 PM
Wednesday 12 PM – 8 PM
Thursday 10 AM – 6 PM
Friday 9 AM – 5 PM
Saturday 9 AM – 5 PM
Sunday 1 PM – 5 PM

Hours may vary on holidays.

📍 Location & Contact

Address: 2100 South Wentworth Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616

Phone: (312) 747-8013

Website: chipublib.org

📖 About Chinatown Branch

The Chinatown Branch at 2100 South Wentworth Avenue opened on August 29, 2015 as a civic anchor for Chicago's Chinatown. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, the 16,000-square-foot building takes a softened, triangular 'pebble' shape that follows the angle where Wentworth and Archer Avenues meet — avoiding sharp corners in keeping with feng shui — and organizes its two floors around a central, skylit atrium inspired by the traditional Chinese courtyard. The design earned an AIA/ALA Library Building Award and an AIA Institute Honor Award for Interior Architecture, and the branch has become one of the neighborhood's busiest gathering places.

⭐ What makes this branch special

  • Award-winning SOM architecture (AIA/ALA Library Building Award)
  • Triangular 'pebble' form guided by feng shui
  • Daylit two-story central atrium (courtyard plan)
  • Chinese-language collections and bilingual programs

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Chinatown Branch shaped the way it is?

Its rounded, triangular 'pebble' footprint follows the angle where Wentworth Avenue and Archer Avenue meet, avoiding aggressive sharp corners in keeping with feng shui principles. Inside, two floors wrap around a skylit central atrium modeled on a traditional Chinese courtyard.

Has the Chinatown library won architecture awards?

Yes. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and opened in 2015, it received an AIA/ALA Library Building Award and an AIA Institute Honor Award for Interior Architecture, and is frequently cited as one of Chicago's finest modern civic buildings.

Does the Chinatown Branch have Chinese-language materials?

Yes. The branch serves Chicago's Chinatown with Chinese-language books and media and bilingual programming alongside its English collections, acting as a cultural and educational hub for the neighborhood.

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