Cruzen-Murray Library

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"True to the College of Idaho\u2019s vision\nfor the space, the school\u2019s new Cruzen-Murray Library is a light and airy\nenvironment that gives students the sense of being surrounded by something much\nbigger than themselves. The library eschews the cloistered spaces for quiet\nlearning found throughout traditional academic libraries, embracing instead a\ndynamic space that offers students ample opportunities for intellectual\nexchange. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"For this project, the design team\ninverted the 20th-century library diagram of a great central reading space that\nis surrounded by stacks, offices, and meeting spaces. Teaching classrooms and\nadministrative offices form the core of this library, and they also serve as a\nhub for vertical circulation. To allow for future adaptability due to shifting\ntechnology and pedagogical needs, the team designed a flexible floor plan with\naccess flooring to distribute ventilation, power, and data resources."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"The west side of the library contains\nits ground-level entrance, which doubles as a welcoming invitation to the\ncampus. In addition, the western edge of the site includes a terraced landscaped\namphitheater that provides round-the-clock access to a technology lab on the\nlibrary\u2019s lower plaza level. Inside, the library\u2019s public and social spaces are\narranged on its west side, facing an existing campus quadrangle, while quiet\nstudy and individual spaces are protected by its stacks to the east. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Upon entry, users are greeted with a\nsculptural stair that leads to a large reading room overlooking a two-story\ncivic gallery. A convex cedar ceiling spans the second level, giving the space\na warm and acoustically pleasant atmosphere. At night, the library glows softly\nlike a lantern, an effect that is amplified by the richly expressed ceiling. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Throughout the highly sustainable\nlibrary, a series of passive and active measures work together to significantly\nreduce its energy and water consumption, including on-site management of all\nstormwater run-off and a geothermal heat pump system. In addition, the library\nis wrapped with an insulated glass curtain wall that is shaded by a series of\nperforated metal shade fins, all carefully arranged to draw natural light into\nits interior spaces throughout the day. The fins spiral around the building\u2019s\nelliptical shape, rising at the entryway to invite users inside. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Since the library\u2019s opening, the\ncollege has reported a sharp increase in library visits. Moreover, the space\nhas become a celebrated hub of campus life, demonstrating how libraries are\nmuch more than sources of information. The library has since welcomed a new\nwriting center and expanded instructional technology support, and student\ngroups and teams have relied on the space for gatherings. "]]]]}