Situated in the joint-use library at San José State University’s campus, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library’s 8,219 square foot Children’s Room—used by children, teens, and families—was initially constructed in 2003 and updated in 2020 to include the Wee Play Explore Space. This space uses about 1,000 square feet of the total, leaving the rest in need of modernization. The library seeks to enhance flexibility for multifunctionality through structural and furniture features for distinct but mutable zones. By continuing to elevate the themes of interactive play and discovery, and celebrating artwork created by artist Mel Chin, the reimagined Children’s Room would include more opportunities for child-parent interaction, inclusive elements like nursing spaces, and gender-neutral restrooms, while optimizing flow and maximizing storage and display.
Read the full article: https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/news/5-design-challenges-from-hayward-design-institute-hayward-2023
