Hollein came to Cambridge and met the neighbors before even starting his design. He returned two weeks ago for further discussion.

"Having discussion that brings the neighbors into the design process is important," Powers says. "Projects are enhanced through community involvement."

Hollein has much experience integrating modern designs in Vienna, a city known for its medieval architecture.

In a design reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright and Frank Gehry, Hollwein puts an undulating copper mesh facade in front of a wall of glass. The other sides will be coated in bronze-colored metal, and the building will have a courtyard accessible from both Mt. Auburn and J.F.K Street.

"[Hollwein] has done things on this site that are very creative and really quite brilliant," says Lee D. Cott, the principal architect for Bruner, Cott and Associates, the collaborating firm.

The site currently houses Harvard Provisions Company and Skewers Restaurant. The new building will have stores on the first level and the offices of the Harvard University Library in the upper floors of the building.

Harvard Square is not a homogenous place, Levitan says. Crate and Barrel's concrete and glass structure, Gnomon Copy's art-deco facade and the Lampoon's playful brick building all have equal place in the square, he says.