Client: Williams College
Architect: Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Architects
While the project was still in schematic development, Milder Office had the opportunity to work with Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Architects on the interior design of a new central library building at Williams College, a renowned liberal arts college in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
Working with students, faculty, library staff and administrators we created four test sites to prototype and publicly test concepts for new learning environments.
This was not only an opportunity for the planning team to anticipate what will become the new library later on, but to also to involve the larger community at the college in the discussions and decision making about the new building interior.
Working off leads we picked up from the discussion with the architects and during visits to the campus.
We proposed, installed and iterated four options:
The Café: meeting spot and destination
The Lounge: Informal with large pillows, low tables, and moveable displays and white boards for delineating space, note taking and collaboration.
Alone + Together: Creating a smaller space on the open floor, this installation explored the dynamic between working individually or in groups, and developing dynamics when shifting between both states.
Islands: The fourth site explored a specific architectural detail along the facade of the building and looked for options of larger study ‘islands’.
Working with the Williams community over the course of two semesters, we collected data and feedback from all stakeholders through surveys, interviews, as well as public forums and presentations
Some of the insights and learning were made part of the final design of the building that went into service several years later.
Comments Off on Reimagining the Free Library of Philadelphia
Client: Free Library of Philadelphia
In preparation for the new reality at libraries, with diminishing stacks and the need to expand its services and outreach to the community, this two hour long public workshop kicked off a longer collaboration with the Free Public Library in Philadelphia.
Working with the President and Director of Philadelphia’s Library System Siobhan Reardon, and her staff, and supported by students from the ‘Design for Social Impact’ program that Jonas Milder directed at that time ( https://issuu.com/mid_uart ), we developed and facilitated highly structured program to explore options for the new Library ‘Commons’, a 6,000 sqft. space just renovated at the Central Library of Philadelphia.
Forty participants from a wide range organizations and communities representative of the Philadelphia community worked through a series of intensive exercises to explore three paramount considerations for the new space: Space; Experience; Services.
Outcomes of this workshop were presented to the Library Board and became part of the planning process and further development of the space and programming for the Central Library and throughout the Philadelphia Library System.
This project addressed the need of Campbell’s Global Design Center to re-think their physical office environment in connection with the assessment and pending re-organization of the way projects are managed and work flows through the office. Over a period of nine weeks (two days per week) our team applied design research and produced design interventions and collaborative forums with CGDC staff. The design team established a dialog with and within the CGDC team, that eventually produced a number of ‘design-orienting scenarios’. Working hand-in-hand with our partners, we are able to tackle their most complex organizational and operational challenges.
This project addressed the need of Campbell’s Global Design Center, a group of about 18 Art Directors, designers and administrative staff, to re-think their physical office environment in connection with the assessment and pending re-organization of the way projects are managed and work flows through the office.
As we partner with organizations, we’re developing a design culture where one didn’t exist before. Bringing it to life in a practical way, within the everyday context of society. Arming our partners with the design and thought processes to approach things a little differently. And making a lasting impression on the way they operate.
Through detailed but informal interview sessions, our team got to know the employees at Campbell’s. This was a crucial step in rethinking their workspace because it provided us with valuable information on how they moved through the different areas and what spoke to them most and least about the existing space.
After completing the interview process, several interventions were installed throughout the office as a means of visualizing and sharing some of the data gathered. Using humor and a light touch ‘thought bubbles’ of statements from the interviews were hung above the cubicles encouraging conversations and a sharing of ideas amongst the staff.
Part of the interview process focused on each employees’ daily tasks and habits, and how they navigated through the office space.
The Milder Team created a striking visual of the ‘everyday path’ information collected from staff during the mapping exercise, using colored tape to display work flows and patterns, and reflecting on how this might inform a new floor layout for the various teams.
Many of the participants expressed feeling a lack of connection while working in their cubicles. To reflect this disconnect (visual and physical), we hung silver mylar balloons between the cubicles that, much like a convex mirror, allowed the staff to see into adjoining cubicles.
Another design intervention invited participants to climb a step stool thereby providing a different view by which to contemplate their office landscape and reflect the effect on group dynamics and workflows.
Developing a shared understanding with the CGDC team was key in helping them to imagine and anticipate not only a better workspace, but a way of working more collaboratively.
The workshop concluded with a presentation of design orienting scenarios based on response to the participatory development session. These scenarios reflected the ideas The new CGDC space and successful reorganization serve now as a model for future office planning and reorganization projects at Campbell’s.
