Page 34 - spaces4learning, Spring 2023
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spaces4learning CAMPUS DESIGN
USING PARTICIPATORY DESIGN TO CREATE A STTCTR
LIBRARY
By Susan Pruchnicki
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT of Clayton’s high-school library had not been renovated for several years. The library was no longer meeting student needs, such as breakout spaces for small groups to work and study. A restructuring of the space was needed. The district wanted to take the opportunity to boldly re- imagine the space to meet the changing needs of its students. The district prides itself on a commitment to a rich, rigorous academic culture, and it wanted to offer its students a state-of-the-art library that reflected those priorities. The question was: What does a 21st-century teenager want out of a library these days, anyway?
To find the answer, Bond Architects used a participatory design approach.
Bringing together students, teachers, and administration,BondArchitectsworkedto create an open, collaborative environment where all stakeholders were equal members of the design development process. We held in-depth group discussions. We distributed surveys. We even worked with our furniture dealers to bring samples of furniture we were considering into the library so students could test-drive the pieces themselves and vote for their favorites. Along the way, we discovered what the students valued in the library space and what they would most like to see change. The lessons we learned from engaging with Clayton High School’s students were surprising and provide valuable insights into the future of school library design.
Lesson 1: A Need
for Restorative Space
In Fall 2022, depression, stress, and anxiety were the most-cited obstacles to learning for secondary spaces at every grade lev- el (YouthTruth Student Survey, “Insights From The Student Experience, Part I: Emo- tional & Mental Health,” Fall 2022.) The effects of COVID lockdowns and social media dominance have all contributed to making students feel stressed and isolated.
School libraries offer a valuable opportunity to create a restorative space for teenagers because they are quiet, unstructured, and safely monitored. They offer access to clubs, hobbies, and media to explore—in a time when school campuses are increasingly closed off from the world because of security concerns, a library is a place where students can focus outward.
When we talked to students at Clayton High School, they spoke about their stress from busy days full of academics, extracurriculars, jobs, and family
34 SPRING 2023 | spaces4learning.com
