Skip to main content

James B. Hunt Jr. Library

The Award-Winning Home for Collaboration

James B. Hunt Jr. Library, located on Centennial Campus, is NC State’s most celebrated library and a national model for how academic libraries can inspire creativity, collaboration and discovery. With its striking modern design and award-winning architecture, Hunt is more than a place for books. It’s a space where students come together to learn, create and share ideas.

Inside, the library offers a wide range of study environments: quiet reading areas, group project rooms, open collaboration spaces and spaces for individual work. Nearly 100 reservable rooms allow students to customize their learning environment. Technology-rich labs, including a Game Lab, Music and Media Production Studios and Makerspaces, open the door to experimentation across disciplines.

One of the most famous features of Hunt Library is the bookBot, an automated retrieval system that can store up to 2 million volumes in a fraction of the space of traditional shelving. With the bookBot handling storage, Hunt Library is free to dedicate more space to people, projects and emerging technologies.

Meet Humairaa. She’ll guide you through Hunt Library:

Award-Winning Design

Hunt Library has earned multiple honors for its design and innovation, including recognition from the American Institute of Architects.

Local Landmark

Designed by the creators of the Oslo Opera House, Hunt is a centerpiece of NC State’s Centennial Campus.

A Library of the Future

Widely regarded as one of the most technologically advanced libraries in the U.S., Hunt features large-scale visualization walls and immersive computing spaces.

The sun sets on Centennial Campus behind the Hunt Library and the Reds and Whites art installation on the Engineering Oval.
A pedestrian walks to the Oval on Centennial Campus on a fall afternoon.
Students brainstorm and collaborate in Hunt library on Centennial Campus.

Get Directions

Take a 3D Tour

iPearl Immersion

iPearl Immersion is a state-of-the-art visualization space at Hunt Library featuring an ultra-high-resolution curved screen designed for immersive research, teaching and collaboration.

3D Tour Description

Located on the second floor of the Hunt Library, the iPearl Immersion Theater serves as the library’s premier digital exhibit space and is designed to be the first high-tech “wow” moment for visitors entering the building. It features a massive, 20-foot-long curved video wall that provides incredibly sharp, immersive visuals.The room is defined by its striking NC State red walls and a high-gloss floor that reflects the digital content.The space is filled with colorful, plush pedestal stools in shades of purple, red and pink, encouraging visitors to sit and watch the content on the screen.

Teaching and Visualization Lab

The Teaching and Visualization Lab supports hands-on learning and interactive instruction through advanced display technology and flexible classroom design.

3D Tour Description

The Teaching and Visualization Lab, located on the fourth floor of the Hunt Library, is a “black-box” experimental classroom designed for high-definition, immersive experiences. The room’s standout feature is a seamless, 85-foot-long curved projection screen that provides a 217-degree field of view. This creates an “uninterrupted” visual environment for anyone inside. The lab is equipped with professional 7.1 Dolby Digital Surround Sound and 4K laser projectors. It allows for up to eight separate devices to be projected onto the wall simultaneously, making it ideal for comparing different data sets or collaborative projects. The furniture, including modular tables and ergonomic multi-purpose chairs, is on wheels. This allows the room to be quickly reconfigured from a traditional lecture setup into a collaborative workspace or an open gallery.

Music Rooms

Hunt Library’s Music Rooms provide sound-isolated spaces where students can practice, record and collaborate on music projects.

3D Tour Description

This space consists of the Music Rooms (specifically Rooms A and B), located on the fourth floor of the Hunt Library. These are professional-grade sound studios designed for high-end audio production. Each room is acoustically treated with sound-dampening glass and wall panels to ensure high-quality recordings without outside interference. These suites are packed with professional gear including a high-end digital stage piano used by professional musicians, audio interfaces for high-fidelity recording and mixing, studio-quality speakers for accurate sound playback and workstations that come pre-loaded with industry-standard software like Logic Pro X, Ableton Live, GarageBand and Audacity. The desks are set up with large monitors to help users manage complex timelines while keeping their mixer or plugin windows open.

The Landing

The Landing is a welcoming community space in Hunt Library that hosts events, exhibitions, and informal gatherings at the intersection of technology, creativity and learning.

3D Tour Description

The Landing is a dynamic, multi-use space located on the fourth floor of the Hunt Library. It is designed to be one of the more relaxed, collaborative hubs in the building. The focal point is a massive, widescreen digital display wall. This display wall often serves as a “welcome” portal or a digital signage area, but it is also used for interactive presentations and high-end gaming. The most iconic feature of this room is the bright red, sculptural seating. These are Magis Spun Chairs and are designed to look like spinning tops that allow you to rock and spin in a full 360-degree circle while remaining balanced. The space includes modular white tables with integrated power outlets and colorful multi-purpose chairs, making it a popular spot for group projects or casual study sessions. The room features large glass windows that look out over Centennial Campus, providing a lot of natural light and a sense of openness.

Areas of Study Spotlight

Dive deeper into some of the innovative academic programs and departments that define NC State’s excellence, many of which have a strong presence on Centennial Campus.