Noted conservation architect, urbanist and Harvard faculty Rahul Mehrotra, who is designing a “modern library” for Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (CEPT) University, would model it on the famed Anup Talao, built by Mughal emperor Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri.

Slated to be inaugurated in January 2017, the 30,000 sq ft “Lilavati Lalbhai Library” would cost around Rs 11 crore. The library is expected to have a seating capacity of 230 people and 82 reading rooms.

Speaking at a lecture on CEPT campus on the design of the new library, Mehrotra, a CEPT alumnus, said the building would have a courtyard with four entrances. Located in front of Khawbgah complex at Fatehpur Sikri, Anup Talao is an ornamental pool with a central platform and four bridges leading up to it.

Mehrotra said, “We will be cutting the earth to construct a stepwell and a part of the building will be submerged (sic!). The library building will not touch the edges and it will have a courtyard as well. The library currently has 35,000 books, however, the new library will be able to hold 1,00,000 books. The building will be zoned in two ways — the upper floors will [have] reading rooms and the basements will have space for books and quiet reading.” (sic!)