Center for the Study of the Texts
Built in the third stage of the building of the Arc, the Center for the Study of the Sacred Texts is the base of the scholars and translators who study and translate the Bahá’í texts to assist the Universal House of Justice. The architect was Hossein Amanat and it was completed in 1999.
It is located on the arc laid out by the Guardian of the Faith on Mt. Carmel above the Shrine of the Báb and to the east. It is directly west of the Seat of the Universal House of Justice, between it and the International Baha'i Archives. Much of the building lies below ground with skylights to provide natural lighting to all levels. Below ground it is also connected to an extension to the Archives which provides secure, climate-controlled storage vaults for the original, hand written papers that constitute the Baha'i Sacred Texts to protect and preserve them.
The design of the building is contemporary with classical elements and proportions so to harmonize with the other buildings on the arc. Its most curious feature is the opening in the entrance portico. This provides light several stories down, under the portico, which is also circular in design and open in the center. At the lowest level of this light-well is a fountain and miniature garden.
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