Dynamic Associates Agency: Library

By dynamicassociat... | L Redesign your school library with new spaces for community groups

Overview
Collect Info
Brainstorm Ideas
Develop Solutions
Final Design

fill text

Show

The challenges and problems that have presented themselves with the redesigning of the library are numerous. Our biggest concerns are the space and layout issues of the library. Another challenge that we have to take into consideration is how we have to incorporate a computer lab into the design. Naturally we are changing from physical hard copies of materials to electronic copies of most materials this is why the library must be very advanced to manage the demands of the future. Mrs.Gibson, the librarian, told us personally that adding a second floor would be an ideal way to maximize the amount of floor space that we have.

Our design firm the Dynamic Associates Agency is going to add an eco-friendly touch to the new library while maintaining a friendly, warming, and technologically advanced environment for the vast amount of students at Mira Loma High School. The new library will be more energy efficient and will reduce waste as much as possible.

• Our leading exterior designer is Zac Mathieu.
• The Interior design will be taken care of by Ryan Kwong.
• Interior décor design will be covered by Cory Gallagher.
• The director of landscape design is Jed Hughes
• The director of community relations is Sam Khemici.

Comments

Go back and check your grammar. Please double space between each paragraph so it's easier on the eyes. Please use a bullet list for director positions. Your last two sentences aren't accurate--fix them.

By bgrueneberger, Educator at 12:08 pm, 05 September 2012

You've see some nice goals here, looking forward to the solutions!

It would be good to define what "eco-friendly touch" means to you guys exactly.
Is it recycled materials? Is it healthy air quality? Is it energy Efficiency?

I like the idea of integrating technology obviously. I think it would be good to even consider the days in the not too distant future when typical book stacks and reading spaces may be obsolete or at least less than what we see today.

I'd caution you to not get to set in those defined roles too - keep collaborating, it'll make for a better, more beautiful building i swear!

By logan_rogers, Architect at 11:14 am, 12 September 2012

We redefined what we meant by an "eco-friendly touch."
We are going to be adding a pdf book and article reading station because we do believe that in the non too distant future we won't be relying on physical copies of books any longer. Thanks for reminding us to work together, as we do believe that is a very important group value.

By dynamicassociat..., Student at 10:50 am, 26 September 2012

Collect Instructions

Show

Gather more information about your existing school library by taking photos, sketching, conducting interviews, and doing additional research.

Think About:

What are all the different functions / activities that currently take place in your school's library?
Do you enjoy working and reading in this room now? Why or why not?
How is the library different than a typical classroom?
When you study at home, where and how do you read? (On the couch, on the floor, on your bed, outside, at the kitchen table, at a desk in your bedroom?) Could similar comfortable places be designed for your new school library?
Will you redesign the interior of your existing school library or will you build a new addition for these spaces?
How do students collaborate around technoloyg with other students? Where do you do this now?
In what ways could your school building become a small community center for residents after school hours?

Try This:

Take photos of your school's library, the media center, the study hall, or any other space where students are hanging out.
Measure the overall size of your school's existing library. Is it crowded now or does it have empty space?
Measure the number of linear feet of book shelves in your school library. Ask the librarian if they feel your library should contain more or less space for bound books?
Take photos of where students are studying at school - either independently or in a small group - throughout the school day.
Ask your school's administrator about any types of community groups that may already use your school building in the evening.
Interview your school librarian and several classmates. What do they think about the existing library? What changes would they make if they had a choice?
Make a list of all the different functions / activities that currently take place in your school's library.
Make a list of all the things you like about your library. Ask several friends and your teachers their opinions.
Several new public libraries have opened recently around the world. What can you learn from these? Investigate... (links to come)
Some of the most impressive historic libraries provide an awe-einspiring place to learn. What can you learn from these? Check out...(links to come)

dynamicassociatesagency's work for the Collect Information step:

Summary

Our client, Mrs. Gibson, requested that the newly built library includes a second floor to accommodate more computers and study space for students.

The Dynamic Associates Agency design team.

3 comments

This is the front of the library.

0 comments

This room is currently the most utilized space in the library. There are 32 computers in the...

3 comments

This study hall area is located in the room behind the library. It contains a few book shelves and...

3 comments

This is the space where we plan to put our community garden.

2 comments

This photograph is significant because it shows us how much space we have to utilize. The red...

3 comments

Brainstorm Instructions

Show

Develop preliminary sketches to help you puzzle through new ideas and solutions.

Think About:

Many libraries just have rows of book shelves and a few tables and chairs for students. But is this the best way for students to access, learn, and share information today?
How does collaborative learning occur in a library?
How can you provide both quiet and noisy learning spaces in a library?
Does the library have a separate entrance so community groups can enter/exit in the evening without having to walk through the entire school building?

The library will need to include four big types of spaces and furnishings:

a reading room / study loungue (tables with computers, chairs, couches, etc)
book storage and a circulation book check-out counter (shelves, work counters)
librarian's office and workspace
meeting rooms (tables, chairs, technology options)

Try This:

You'll need to decide where will this new library be located in your school. Are you redesigning the exsiting space or building a new addition?
Walk around the exterior of your school building and take photos of your existing library and / or a possible location for a new library addition.
Use Google Maps to view and print out an aerial photo of your school. Identify a location for the library.
Contact your school's building or maintenance department. They may already have a floor plan of your school to use as a reference.
Sketch bubble diagrams to figure out the spatial relationships between the various rooms and spaces in your new or redesigned library. Which spaces will be next to each other? Which spaces should not be next to each other?
Make lots of sketches to get your early ideas down on paper. Learn from each different idea.

Your design or redesign of a new library might include the following types of sizes of spaces. These are just suggestions. Feel free to revise this and incorporate other spaces you think may be needed.

Library space planning rules of thumb:

space	800 students in your school	1200 students in your school	1600 students in your school	2400 students in your school
Reading Room / Study Lounge with computers	1,400 square feet	2,100 square feet	2,800 square feet	4,200 square feet
Book storage and book check-out counter	1,400 square feet	2,100 square feet	2,800 square feet	4,200 square feet
Librarian's office / workroom	120 square feet	120 square feet	240 square feet	240 square feet
Meeting rooms	1 room at 250 square feet	2 rooms at 250 square foot each	3 rooms at 250 square foot each	4 rooms at 250 square foot each
TOTAL	3,170 square feet	4,820 square feet	6,590 square feet	9,640 square feet

dynamicassociatesagency's work for the Brainstorm Ideas step:

Summary

There will be many different energy sources to power the new library, that the school has never used before.

This is the recycled denim insulation that we will use for the building.

1 comment

This is one of the main inspirations for our garden. The entire plaza is larger but as seen here,...

2 comments

This picture shows an example of one of the many prominent inspirations for our library. Since we...

3 comments

The white marble is an example of the material that we want to use for our library walls, floors,...

4 comments

These are the flexible solar panels that can mold to any corner of the building. These will be...

4 comments

Interior design with exterior concept.

3 comments

Ideas for exterior building materials

1 comment

Develop Instructions

Show

dynamicassociatesagency's work for the Develop Solutions step:

Summary

The current problems facing the existing library are insufficient resources, lack of traffic direction, and a lack of space.

This is a better view of our new garden. we still have the koi pond, and a few benches.

5 comments

This is the rainwater collection system we are planning on using for the library. It consists of...

1 comment

15 comments

4 comments

12 comments

5 comments

These are the flexible solar panels that can mold to any corner of the building. These will be...

0 comments

Final Instructions

Show

dynamicassociatesagency's work for the Final Design step:

Summary

We decided to make our library two stories with a balcony, with glass panes to allow the flow of natural sunlight and to allow rainwater to fall into the collection system.