WolfSpace Repository (Stony Brook Univ.)

Staff at Work - University Relations

Statesman, V. 37, n. 09.

Campus Environment Committee Minutes Final 111507

1
Flexible Spaces at Stony Brook Southampton:  
Planning a New Undergraduate Library
Susan P. Lieberthal
Aimée deChambeau
E. Christian Filstrup
Sherry Chang
2
SBU Southampton’s Mission
To produce students with a sense 
of common purpose and community, 
who become agents of change. 
•The Information Commons will be  designed for flexible, future-proof, student-
oriented space which will provide the ideal learning environment for these 
students.
3
Information Commons 
at Southampton
• Coffee Shops
• Service Desks 
• Individual Space
• Group Space
• Collaborative Computing
• Study Rooms
• Faculty Space
• Media Production
• Flexible Space
These are the types of spaces you need and we have presented them in the order 
you would see them as you enter and move through the library.
4
Trinity (TX)
Coffee Shops
GA Tech
Waterloo
Highlights:
Trinity: Newspapers in coffee shop
Ga Tech: Bank of computers in back of the coffee shop – separated by a glass wall.
Waterloo: Coffee shop right in the library
5
Service Desks
U.Mass Amherst
Buffalo State
Calgary
Sunshine Coast
We think that integrating Library Reference with IT technical help is the most 
effective use of space and personnel.
Observe that in the map and all the service areas shown here, circulation is 
separated from the reference/tech help areas. In the Southampton library these 
three services would need to be integrated more closely in order to conserve space 
for student use. 
Calgary’s desk is especially nice as the librarian is at the same height as a student 
who would approach the desk.
UMass Amherst desk is very long and geometric, with the Tech Help at one corner 
and Reference in another.
In the Sunshine Coast map the highlighted areas show the separation of the 
circulation and Reference/IT help service areas. On the right is the circ/copy 
services desk. The horseshoe desk has Reference at the top and IT at the bottom.
Buffalo State is an example of a traditional reference desk, separated from the Circ 
desk, with plenty of signage to make all service areas clear.
6
Individual Space
Aukland
Duke
Simmons
The Aukland and Simmons pictures show examples of new carrels that do not have 
the closed-in feeling of the old, traditional carrels. Both have glass/transparent 
dividers. In both cases these are the quiet study areas. 
The Duke picture is a good example of the integration of different spaces: Comfy 
chairs for individuals and small groups, carrels for privacy, and tables for group 
work or for an individual who requires more space.
7
Group Space
SturtU.Mass Amherst
Aukland
The curved table in the Sturt picture is an example of a use of space where groups 
could work on the inside curve and individuals on the outside.
The best examples of small group work areas are shown in the UMass Amherst 
pictures. The flexible dividers are illustrative of the use of flexible furniture. Kidney 
shaped tables allow group to share a single computer.
Aukland’s group space is more comfy and informal, similar to restaurant booths.
8
Collaborative Computing
Vassar
Stanford
Stanford has technology that their group space facilitates. The technology permits 
sharing of files and programs, while the space and furnishings allow the students to 
see what they are sharing.
Vassar’s Media Cloisters has space for multiple screens, space to allow students to 
set up laptops together for collaboration, and in background of the picture you can 
see the screens for media production and viewing.
9
Study Rooms
U.Mass Amherst
Simmons
Example of the use of glass to separate areas into small group study areas. It is 
essential to be able to see into group rooms to prevent “extracurricular” activities.
Again, UMass Amherst is an example of flexible furnishing/walls. It appears that this 
group room has a temporary dividing wall. Note also that the wall has whiteboards.
10
Comfortable Seating
Utah State
Simmons
Utah State uses both group and single-person oriented configurations for 
comfortable seating.  Simmons College mixes comfortable chairs with tables.
11
Faculty Space
Hendrix College
Deerfield Academy
Many libraries have space for faculty. This space can also be used for groups when 
not in use by faculty. (This is one suggestion that has not been embraced by those 
planning the Southampton facility – they did not want to have designated space that 
may not be heavily used, but rather just have group rooms which everyone, 
including faculty could use.)
12
Media Production
Vassar
UC Santa Cruz - GISNCSU
Media production areas and support are frequently included as an integral part of a 
library/information commons.
13
Flexibility
Sunshine Coast
GA Tech
U.Mass Amherst
Stony Brook
Flexibility should be an important feature of the space plan. These examples show 
different spaces designed with flexibility in mind. Everything shown here can be 
easily reconfigured.
Sunshine Coast has a accordion door that separates a classroom set-up from the 
rest of the commons area. When class is not is session the door is opened to 
provide additional seating and computing for students.
Ga Tech uses screen on tracks and tent-like structures the students can move to 
create their own personal spaces. Note also that Ga Tech’s power and possibly 
internet cables come off the tracks on the ceiling.
UMass Amherst has screens above the work areas. Presumably these screens 
reduce glare on the monitors from the lights above. These screens also help define 
the group space. 
The Stony Brook picture is an example of triangular furniture that can be configured 
indifferent patterns, in this case a pod.
14
Stony Brook Southampton
15
Main Entrance to Library Building
This building was originally designed and the construction began for Long Island 
University when it owned the Southampton campus.  Since then it has been 
purchased by Stony Brook.  Stonybrook is continuing to work with the architects that 
designed this building.
16
A Building with “Good Bones,” Lots of Glass 
and “Grey Water”
There will be a focus on biodiversity at Southampton so this partially green building 
fits in well with the new mission of Southampton.
17
Main Floor (Information or Learning Commons)
Lots of open space, light, high ceiling on one side of the main floor. 
18
View of Café and Steps to Mezzanine
The stairs to the mezzanine, the future writing center.  Next to the stairs on the main 
floor will be the coffee shop.
19
Good Light for Offices/Group Rooms and Low 
Mezzanine Ceiling to Accommodate Book Stacks
One side of the mezzanine will house book stacks, the other lower ceiling at the end 
marks where the group rooms and library offices will be.
20
The Mezzanine – Future Writing Center
21
Lower Level for TLT – Reinforced Floor for 
Compact Shelving (no longer needed)
At the far end the floor is lower and reinforced for compact shelving.  This is no 
longer needed.  The entire lower floor will be designated for computing including a 
60 seat classroom.
22
Security Conundrum from Lower and Mezzanine 
Levels to Main Floor
If the main floor is open to both mezzanine and lower level, how will we ensure that 
materials from the main floor do not disappear.  Also if every floor is open the library 
level would need to be staffed all the time that the building is open.
This problem is still being discussed and addressed.
23
Mitchell Guirgola Architects at Southampton
This is an example of another building at Southampton designed by the architects at 
Mitchell Guirgola.  Note the use of light colored wood, and the country feel of the 
main entrance with its outdoor-type of furniture.
24
The Initial Plan – More Comfy Seating Needed!
Mitchell | Giurgola Architects, LLP
170 WEST 97TH STREET   NEW YORK, NY
Suggestions for Architects:
Remove kiosk for quick search as you enter on left.  Too bright for computers near the windows.  
Good spot for more comfy seating.
Remove shelving to left of service desk, not needed.  Add kiosk for quick searching here.
Offices need to be just behind service desk, with glass walls to see out.  Librarian’s office should be 
here as well.
Add comfy seating in left hand corner.
The rows of tables seem tightly packed.  Suggestions include to integrate tables with individual 
seating plus comfy seating.
The snake-like organization of computer tables is attractive, these should be kept as is.
25
The Modified Plan – Many Changes & More Comfy Seating!
Architects have addressed the need for more comfy seating near the entrance of 
the building.  They have designed kiosk for quick searching of the computer to the 
left of the service desk.  They have integrated the back office and librarians’ office 
right behind the service desk.  They have removed several sets of stacks and 
replaced them with additional seating.  The left hand farthest corner now includes 
additional comfy seating.
26
Susan P. Lieberthal susan.lieberthal@stonybrook.edu
Aimée deChambeau aimee.dechambeau@stonybrook.edu
E. Christian Filstrup christian.filstrup@stonybrook.edu
Questions?
Susan  P.  Lieberthal
susan.lieberthal@stonybrook.edu
Aimée deChambeau
aimee.dechambeau@stonybrook.edu
E.  Christian  Filstrup
christian.filstrup@stonybrook.edu


English

Flexible Spaces at Stony Brook Southampton.

Pamela Di Pasquale/Lib 
03/30/2006 12:44 PM
To Library Staff
cc
bcc
Subject Student Staff Appreciation
9th Annual Student Staff Appreciation Day Luncheon
There were 66 student staff nominated from the various campus and HSC departments for the Student 
Employee of the Year Award and 5 of those students nominated were from the University Libraries. 
They are:  Xing Chen - Cataloging processing
Ying-Ying Chung - Sci/Engr. Library
Sharif Nayem - Comp. Sci Library
Jenkeng Oyoung -   Math/Physics Library
Gregory Smith - Circulation Services
Gregory Smith from Circulation Services won an honorable mention certificate and a monetary award, the 
honorable mention awards are given to the campus top ten students.
Sharif Nayem from the Comp. Sci. Library, won first place and was awarded the Student of the Year 
Award for 2006.  This a wonderful honor.  Sharif will be getting the first place certificate, a monetary 
award and a proclamation letter from the Suffolk County Executive, Steve Levy.  Sharif is the first student 
to receive a proclamation letter from the Suffolk County Executive.  Congratulations !!!!
Greg unfortunately could not attend the event, Hanne accept the award on his behalf.
attached is a picture of Sharif and Connie with his award.  


_ Student Staff Appreciation.

Maryanne Vigneaux/Lib 
04/10/2008 01:11 PM
To Maryanne Vigneaux/Lib@SUNYSB
cc
bcc F.Jason Torre/Lib
Subject Library Bulletin, April 10, 2008, Number 1641
CAMPUS CASH BONANZA:
Some of our staff participate by enrolling their kids in the Child 
Care Services here on campus.  We can all participate in raising 
$$ for this non-profit organization AND enter to win cash!!  
Here's how -
Enter by yourself at $50/each ticket
Enter with a group of 10 staff at $5/each ticket
Enter with a group of 5 staff for $10/each ticket
HELP THEM . . . YOU MAY WIN . . .
The total pot is $15,000 FIRST PRIZE
Then $2000 SECOND PRIZE
Then $1000 THIRD PRIZE
Then $500 FOURTH PRIZE
$200 Two prizes 
$100 Four prizes
The drawing is on May 1, 2008 and you don't have to be present to win !
TO PARTICIPATE PLEASE SEE CONNIE (IN CRR APRIL 10 -18)
OR MARYANNE (IN DIRECTOR'S OFFICE APRIL 21-25)


Not a member yet

Staff at Work - University Relations

Statesman, V. 37, n. 09.

Campus Environment Committee Minutes Final 111507

Flexible Spaces at Stony Brook Southampton.

_ Student Staff Appreciation.

Library Bulletin, April 10, 200

Stony Brook Press V. 13, N. 13.

Statesman, V.21, n. 9.

Statesman V. 29, n. 05.

Un. Senate Res. CEC Membership expansion 12-5-05

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