History meets state of the art 2 case studies: one library blends hi-tech with inspirational architecture. Another links existing edifices in a modern center. What do they have in common? Plenty - College Libraries

University Business, Oct, 2002 by Jeff Morris

The job of designing the interior space was handled by ZGF principal Sharron van der Meulen. Frasca says that in addition to spending a week at a time meeting with each department and librarian to get their specific requirements, van der Meulen also met with students. For the students, breaking down barriers was a big issue. "The physical separations--individual departments and libraries in discrete buildings--had presented barriers," he says. "Students wanted to know: what else is going on out there?" Now, it's all "in here."

And, says Frasca, it was important to achieve a sense of balance. "Williams is one of the oldest small schools in the country," he notes. "The challenge of the small college is to go through change white remaining essentially the same. This now-unified structure does both." One way the building achieves balance, says the architect, is by bringing all of the departments together, while also creating a "home base" for each. Study spaces sprinkled around the library (including hookups for laptops) provide students with the opportunity to be tutored by faculty from each department, situated close by. Furthermore, says Warburg, faculty offices were "mixed and matched," so that faculty from the various science departments are intermingled. This allows faculty from different departments to interact, reinforcing the collaborative atmosphere.

Needs Are Met

"We got exactly what we wanted in terms of square footage, number of seats, and amount of shelving," says Warburg. "We now have adequate space, and adequate growth space for the Future." The 250-seat library has room for 160,000 volumes. Two other important elements were also incorporated in the design: eight private study rooms for cooperative study, and provisions for technology.

The 54 study carrels were custom made by Herman Miller; they are hard-wired and have integrated lighting. Herman Miller Ethospace chairs and furniture are evident throughout.

Van der Meulen also addressed flexibility issues. "For example, we have a large, open instruction room," says Warburg. "There are 14 full-size computers and monitors, but they're installed around the perimeter; everything else is movable. Sharron found special conference tables that move; we can completely change the layout of room in 10 minutes to accommodate any kind of group."

As for technology, everything in the building is wired for easy connectivity, says Frasca. He adds, "The goat in providing technology is to find the most efficient ways students can interact and do research. Carrels are now almost workstations; it's possible for students to do all their research without ever getting up. Fifty percent of the seating is that carrel style." All traditional library tables and chairs are also hardwired, as are the loose lounge seating and tablet arms, and the small group collaboration rooms, which are acoustically soundproofed. Though the library was built just before the wireless trend took hold, "we could easily adapt it later on," says Warburg.