Description

Renovation of approximately 5,800 sf of existing fourth floor space (formerly Education Library) into a library for the Colleges' International Collection of Children's and Adolescent Literature (World of Words). Spaces include collection, reading, special collection, art studio and classroom and support spaces.

Design Intent

The World of Words (WOW), an international collection of adolescent and children’s literature, is the largest of its type in North America and the second largest in the world. Recently relocated from the basement, the WOW program required a space reflecting the quality and uniqueness of the books and original artwork in the collection and inspiring all those that work, learn and visit the College of Education. In addition, the space needed to be highly flexible to serve students, faculty, visitors (especially children) college events, meetings and presentations. This flexibility is particularly evident in the collections area and the visiting artist studio. Guided by WOW’s mission to “Open a book. Open a child’s mind. Open the World.”, this project transformed the space into one that is light filled, open and welcoming. Literally opening windows on the world, the enlarged north and east windows present views to the Catalina Mountains from within and declare WOW’s presence to the world from the building exterior, creating an exciting new destination point on campus.