The renovation of the Posner Center for Special Collections transformed the former Board of Trustees conference center into a showcase exhibition and research facility for CMU Libraries, consolidating special collections storage, research, and exhibition spaces under one roof.

Designed to support daily research, special events, and rotating exhibitions of varying scales, the facility features adaptable spaces tailored to a wide range of uses, including a flexible exhibition hall, instruction and reading rooms, a digitization lab, an AV multimedia studio, dedicated researcher work areas, and secure collections storage rooms with stringent temperature and humidity controls.

This conversion modernizes the original 2005 building while respecting its organic forms, craftsmanship, and intricate detailing. The updated design creates an environment where both the interior architecture and the special collections are equally celebrated, highlighting the University’s impressive holdings of rare books, manuscripts, artwork, and early scientific instruments.