Making Space Manual

Brooklyn Public Library: Making Space Manual

Making Space Manual

Photo by Gregg Richards

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Discovery + Design Principles

What emerged from this process was a set of limitations with the current community rooms. We also established a set of design principles to move forward with while developing a new kit of parts for BPL.

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Making Space Manual

Photo by John Muggenborg

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Discovery + Design Principles

Design Principles BPL’s expanding programming and the staff overseeing that programming have new needs. Emerging from those are the following design principles:

Mutability Spaces are often reconfigured by one person with limited time, so movement of these components cannot be physically demanding. Most components travel between different spaces and must fit through doors, hallways and thresholds.

Durability + Maintenance Moving furniture and equipment (especially by non-library staff) can cause damage to these items, as well as surrounding spaces. Surfaces, including furniture, rugs and walls need to withstand heavy use/traffic and be easy to maintain.

Storage Most items (tech, tools and supplies) should be lockable.

Different format of objects need to be accommodated; from printers and A/V, to art and office supplies.

Public + Private A space may host both highly public programming, as well as activities that require a degree of privacy.

Display It is desirable to have surfaces to display and celebrate the work of BPL patrons. Signage should accommodate frequent updates and changes.

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Making Space Manual

BPL Programming Audit Compiled programming following an audit of all 59 branches across Brooklyn:

Browsing & Lending

Youth Social & Recreation

Book Browsing

Teen Center

Book Lending

Teen Tech / Video Games

A/V Browsing & Lending

Teen Movie Program

Learning Materials Lending

Teen Cooking Classes

Online Book Order & Pick-Up

Chess

Book Delivery

Board Games

eBooks / MP3 Checkout

Group Game Nights

Work & Study Individual Work Space

Production

Group Work Space

Art Classes

Reserved Group Study Spaces

Arts & Crafts (For All Ages)

Quiet Space to Read

Maker Space

Co-Working Spaces

Rehearsal Space Knitting & Crocheting Quilting

Childhood Learning & Afterschool

Rehearsal Space

Afterschool Classes / Programs

Adult Cooking Classes

Homework Help

Workshops (Photography, Writing, etc.)

After School Safe Space Play Space (Legos, Toys, etc.)

Free Summer Lunches Storytime Early Childhood Enrichment Summer Workshop Partnerships Sensory Storytime

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Library Lab

Animation / Green Screen Editing Tool Lending Media Lab Recording Studio Artist Studios

Our Approach

Wellness

Economic Support

Fitness Classes

Job Readiness Classes

Health Insurance Enrollment Assistance

Hiring Events

Health Fair

Resume Help

Health Forums

Tax Preparation Home Buyer Seminars

Flexible Assembly Space

Legal Services (Legal Rights, Doc Prep)

Programmable Community Space

Professional Development

Neighborhood Gathering Space

Couponing

Group Meeting Space

Economic Empowerment Center

Teambuilding Activities

Entrepreneurial Start-Up Services

TeleStory In-Person and Skype Interviews Auditions Crisis Center / Disaster Recovery

Skill-Building Classes

In-Person and Skype Interviews

Pre-GED / GED Prep Classes

Auditions

ESOL Classes + Workshops

Crisis Center / Disaster Recovery

Adult Literacy Classes Language Classes

Event & Performance Exhibition Space Performance Space Event Space Dance Classes

Citizenship Test Classes Computer / Digital Training Advanced Computer Training Online Courses / eLearning Music Lessons Mind Gym

Government Services Mini City Hall Services Interface to Gov Health Agencies

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Making Space Manual

Power Conduit

Ceiling Grid

Demising Acoustical Curtain Retractable Power Cable • Subdivides room into smaller spaces • Mounts onto ceiling grid

• Provides supplementary power • Mounts onto ceiling grid

Color-tunable Light Fixture

Stage Light + Speaker

Digital Projector

Retractable Screen

Acoustical Ceiling Panel

Mobile Wall

Mobile Sign

Wall Panels

Mobile Lectern

Mobile Low Cabinet

Media Cabinet

Tall Cabinet

Mobile Folding Tables

Stacking Chairs

Modular Rug

• Provides agile surface-mounted electrical distribution in existing spaces

• Provide customizable light settings for different types of programming

• Mounts onto ceiling grid • Provides sound absorption

• Multiple shelf levels • Power module

• Efficient storage when not in use • Light, easy to move

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• Provides mounting infrastructure

• Mounts onto ceiling grid • Supports large performances

• Provides agile subdivision of spaces • Provides whiteboard & pin-up surfaces

• Storage and seating • Clip together to form a platform

• Efficient storage when not in use

• Mounts onto ceiling grid

• Provides agile signage • Provides whiteboard & pin-up surfaces

• Lockable AV storage • Supports smaller AV programs

• Modular segments that roll up • Easy to clean • Light, easy to move

• Mounts onto ceiling grid • Supports large AV programs

• Changeable panels • Acoustic and pin-up surfaces

• Storage for large items • Perforated for additional functions

Our Approach

Kit of Parts From this audit, SITU developed a kit-of-parts system that aligns with each program’s technical and functional requirements. Designed for flexibility, the system can adjust from program to program throughout the day. The kit includes design choices around fundamentals such as power distribution and acoustical treatments and extends to details such as cabinet handles and caster wheels.

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Making Space Manual

Color-Tunable Light Fixtures These light fixtures were designed to echo Carnegie-era library interiors while providing customized lighting conditions to support an array of programs throughout the day. Each light uses color-tunable, LED smart-bulbs with pre-programmable wireless switches that can be installed anywhere. The lighting levels can simulate cool daylight to support educational classes, warm-white light for evening programming, sensitive lighting for those visually impaired and even RGB color schemes to enliven the space for teen tech-time, karaoke and other performances.

Photo by John Muggenborg

Wall Panels Wall panels can be equipped with various surfaces from pin-up to whiteboards, and provide dedicated/fixed areas for display and presentation.

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Our Approach

Mobile Sign Each library branch hosts hundreds of programs a year, many of which happen across multiple rooms and floors of each location. Equipped with a felt pin-up surface on one side and a whiteboard on the other—the Mobile Sign allows for fast and easy program announcement, patron messaging or wayfinding in any corner of a branch.

Mobile Wall The mobile walls serve as partitions, but also have a whiteboard side that doubles as a projection wall. They help break the room down into smaller units for privacy and/or additional programs within the one room (that is in high demand). They also provide a surface to hang and display artwork.

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Making Space Manual

Building Blocks Each part of the kit is created through a set of building blocks: a series of powder-coated frames, cabinets at three scales, acoustic panels that vary in shape and size, lighting and electrical equipment. Tied together through the same material choices and color schemes, these blocks combine to create a more site-specific space that supports a wide array of activities occurring at the individual branch level.

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Our Approach

Ceiling Infrastructure Grid A fundamental element of the kit of parts is the ceiling infrastructure grid. Not only does this distribute power and data throughout the room, but it also serves as a suspension structure for lighting, acoustic panels, projectors and the curtain ring.

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Making Space Manual

Makerspace Early Childhood Enrichment Afterschool Classes / Programs Art Classes Arts & Crafts (For All Ages) Rehearsal Space Knitting / Crocheting / Quilting Animation / Green Screen Editing Maker Space Auditions

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Our Approach

Multi-use Individual Work Space Group Work Space Teen Tech / Video Games TeleStory Computer / Digital Training

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Making Space Manual

Photo by Gregg Richards

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Materials + Finishes

Establishing a series of unifying materials and finishes was an important part of this project. In particular, the materials had to be durable, easy to use and affordable.

Additionally, many of the material choices are multipurpose. Acoustic treatment, for example, that doubles as a pinup board. Cabinet finishes that support pegs for hanging other equipment or double as whiteboards.

These design objectives required collecting hundreds of material samples and prototyping various components to find just the right balance of form and function.

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Making Space Manual

Pin-up + Acoustical Ceiling

Hardware

Rug

Cabinet Edges + Doors

All Branch Material Menu For almost every material, we created a palette of color choices so that the kit of parts can be slightly customized to each branch location. Pre-selecting these options allows for a more expedient selection process and ensure that Making Space projects across the library system remain within a unified design framework.

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Materials + Finishes

Curtain

Wood Veneer

Metal Frames

Electrical Conduit

Drop-down Power

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