McKim also exploited up-to-date building technology, as the library represents one of the first major applications, in the United States, of the system of thin tile vaults (or catalan vaults) exported from the Catalan architectural tradition by the valencian Rafael Guastavino.
Rafael Guastavino (1842–1908), Valencian Spanish architect and builder
Rafael Nadal | San Rafael, California | Rafael Hernández Colón | Rafael Viñoly | San Rafael | Rafael Trujillo | Rafael Moneo | Rafael Osuna | Rafael Benítez | Jorge Rafael Videla | Rafael Sabatini | Rafael Correa | Rafael Cordero Santiago | Rafael Alberti | San Rafael, Mendoza | San Rafael, Bulacan | Rafael Squirru | Rafael Lozano-Hemmer | Rafael Escalona | Rafael | Rafael Sperafico | Rafael Solano | Rafael Ruelas | Rafael Rosell | Rafael Morales | Rafael Merry del Val | Rafael Lima (boxer) | Rafael Lima | Rafael Ithier | Rafael Guastavino |
Akoustolith was a patented product of a collaboration between Rafael Guastavino and Harvard professor Wallace Sabine over a period of years starting in 1911.