Smith High School A.E. Library

With the aim of spending energy where it matters, Atelier Pagnamenta Torriani has put a good deal of time into public schools in order to provide quality for those who can benefit the most. Public Schools in New York City are generally very large standardized brick buildings and have an average of 1100 students. The classrooms are situated along a double loaded corridor and the library space is part of the sequence. The goal is to transform each new library into the school’s living room. A space that is enjoyed by the students, as well as the teachers and parents: kind of the heart of each school. The Alfred E. Smith High School is a very large school building built in the 1930 in the Bronx as a vocational high school, providing its students not only with a high school diploma, but also with vocational skills such as building construction and auto repair. In fact, the school has gigantic car workshops. The project is the total reconstruction of an existing library space. We incorporated into the existing room a floating element that modifies the library space perception and highlights the arts and crafts aspects of the school. The soffit is designed as a geometric progression: a double helix repeating modules of 12 triangular facets and defines the dynamics of the reading areas. The library-flooring pattern mimics the triangular progression. Low open shelving separates the classroom, the lounge, and the computer area, leaving clear sightlines for the librarian. All furniture is modular, light and stackable; therefore, the space can morph from a classroom to an informal crescent layout to a formal meeting area for the teachers and parents. Lighting can be adjusted in each zone to create spatial effects, so that the users can emphasize one area or create a general subdued atmosphere when viewing a film. Materials and finishes used in the project are environmentally friendly, recyclable and contain low VOC.