Harvard Medical School, Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine

Established in 1958 through a donation from Sanda Countway in memory of her brother, the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine at Harvard Medical School opened in 1965 and quickly became one of the largest medical libraries globally. Constructed during a period of diverse development in the Medical School area, it was envisioned to function as a vital resource for clinical medicine, biomedical sciences, dentistry, and public health. 

Designed by renowned architect Hugh Stubbins, the library was a prototype building that sought to embody the ideals of Harvard Medical School while meeting its functional requirements that included housing the substantial Harvard Medical School collections and the New England Journal of Medicine. The Modernist, limestone-clad structure was constructed over a vacant section of Shattuck Street, displacing an intersection with Huntington Ave within a sunken plaza. An aerial photo from 1965 shows the original plantings and resultant “moat” that emphasized the vertical nature of the building and created a sense of disconnect from the Huntington side of the neighborhood.

In 2019, Harvard Medical School engaged Shepley Bulfinch to design a comprehensive renovation of Countway Library to reconnect it to Huntington Avenue and enhance the well-being of the surrounding health sciences population. While the original interior organization of Countway Library focused on its physical collections, the renovation aimed to expand user spaces, including areas for collaboration, inspiration, quiet concentration, and technology-rich environments like a maker space and state-of-the-art anatomy visualization system. A new pedestrian bridge and integrated ADA ramps were introduced, improving accessibility and reconnecting Countway to the surrounding community. The renovation also addressed greenhouse gas reductions, healthy materials initiatives, and documentation on building product disclosures, indoor air quality, and a 35% water use reduction, achieving LEED-CI v4 Silver certification. This renovation revitalized a long standing sentinel of the medical community which remains a gateway to the key resources, seekers, and caretakers of knowledge who help to keep our societies safe, healthy, and advancing.  

Owner/Developer of Project    
Harvard Medical School

Architect    
Shepley Bulfinch

Project Team    
Lee Kennedy
Odeh Engineering (WSP)
Nitsch Engineering
BR+A    
Mikyoung Kim Design    
Sladen Feinstein
Acentech    
Code Red Consultants
Kalin & Associates
Robert Benson Photography
Shepley Bulfinch