The Conant High School Library was the second library in the district to undergo renovations in order to transform the space to allow it to better support the 21st Century curriculum. The existing library layout did not support demand from students. Fixed book stacks and staff offices and workrooms occupied a large volume of space and support spaces were closed-off from the library proper. Outdated furniture and finishes did not appeal to the student population.
The renovation plans relocated shelving to the library perimeter. Breakout spaces and technology support spaces were created using a glazed DIRTT wall system to allow for supervision of students and a connection of staff to students to reinforce accessibility of the staff for student help. New walls and a centrally-located circulation desk were angled to mimic the angle of the recently remodeled conference room and office. The juxtaposition of the angle against the orthogonal ceiling creates visual interest.
An existing adjacent classroom was transformed into a cafe nook that can spill out into the library space and serve to house poetry slams and other presentations. A two-story volume was transformed by the introduction of color and pendant lighting and houses a “classroom space” or group work activities. Flexible furniture compliments the design.
