The OBJECTIVE was to create a Reading Room and Preservation Department above grade while storing 3.5 million books below grade in a temperature and humidity controlled environment and retrieved by an Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS). In an effort to infringe as little as possible with the open space, make the Reading Room and the Preservation Department the most pleasant space to be in and in line with our approach to challenge habitual conventions, we opted to put the books below grade, where their environment can be better controlled to achieve the desired constant temperature and humidity of 60 degrees, 30% RH – at less cost. The people oriented spaces could thus be located at grade in a minimal Elliptical Glass Dome, which fits the context, because it defies conventional relationships. The building has been embraced by the leadership of the University, because it represents the mission of the University of Chicago as catalyst for the advancement of knowledge. It is interesting that this happened at an Institution where the disciplines of Architecture and Engineering are not taught, but a spirit prevails to go beyond where others stop. Science, Physics, the liberal and applied Art start, when others think they are complete.