Concept drawings were done to study how the lighting solution co…
Concept drawings were done to study how the lighting solution could employ a simple sculptural and playful design language while connecting to the architectural details and design motifs.
Kevin Chu/KCJP
A view of the library at P.S. 31. Custom fixtures were designed …
A view of the library at P.S. 31. Custom fixtures were designed with bold color and references the children’s toy Slinkey. The fixture layout and irregular perforated metal louver pattern evoke a kinetic experience.
Rendering Courtesy Leroy Street Studio
A rendered view shows the custom fixture in detail with its circ…
A rendered view shows the custom fixture in detail with its circular baffles and dimmable 3-lamp T8 fluorescent lighting system.
Kevin Chu/KCJP
The library entrance at P.S. 31.
Peter Mauss/Esto
A challenge of the custom fixture design was the requirement tha…
A challenge of the custom fixture design was the requirement that a single design solution accommodate the two libraries’ different ceiling heights. At P.S. 110, whose ceilings are 14-feet-tall. a pendant-mounted solution was installed, as seen in one of the reading areas.
Kevin Chu/KCJP
At P.S. 31, where the ceiling heights are 9 feet 6 inches tall, …
At P.S. 31, where the ceiling heights are 9 feet 6 inches tall, a surface-mounted version of the luminaire was used.
Kevin Chu/KCJP
A view of the main library seating area at P.S. 31. Both librari…
A view of the main library seating area at P.S. 31. Both libraries have preset dimming lighting controls. The arrangement of the fixtures was zoned to allow for future integration of a lighting control system that potentially uses daylight harvesting.
Since 2001, a group of more than 50 school libraries within the New York City public school system have undergone a transformation thanks to the Robin Hood Foundation’s “L!brary Initiative.” The program seeks to encourage reading and to reach out to children using one of the only spaces—the school library—in which all grades interact. P.S. 110, on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, and P.S. 31, on Staten Island, are the latest duo in a program that has touched down in every borough.
The challenge for the architects at Leroy Street Studio and lighting designer David Clinard was to develop a lighting strategy that could respond to the different site conditions (P.S. 110 has 14-foot-high ceilings, while P.S. 31’s ceiling are only 9 feet 6 inches tall), and retain “a singular cost-effective approach,” Clinard explains. The solution is a custom-designed dimmable T8 triple-tube linear fixture that can either be pendant- or surface-mounted, depending on the location. In keeping with the playful architectural motifs established by the architects, Clinard designed the luminaire with a series of colorful (yellow on one side, green on the other) circular baffles which bring to mind a Slinky, but which also serve to shield the three lamps from direct view. A rotate-and-lock mechanism provides easy access for relamping.
The library initiative realizes that a school library is more than just a place to store books; it is a place for learning and social interaction that deserves both architectural and lighting design consideration. As the libraries at P.S. 110, P.S. 31, and the others in the program illustrate, creative and inventive design solutions for these spaces promote the value of good design and make a significant investment in the children’s education for the long-term.
Jury Comments: A simple yet animated interior that accomplishes a lot with modest means. • Nice use of color. • It’s refreshing to see lighting as a valued component of good design.
Elizabeth Donoff is Editor-at-Large of Architectural Lighting (AL). She served as Editor-in-Chief from 2006 to 2017. She joined the editorial team in 2003 and is a leading voice in the lighting community speaking at industry events such as Lightfair and the International Association of Lighting Designers Annual Enlighten Conference, and has twice served as a judge for the Illuminating Engineering Society New York City Section’s (IESNYC) Lumen Award program. In 2009, she received the Brilliance Award from the IESNYC for dedicated service and contribution to the New York City lighting community. Over the past 11 years, under her editorial direction, Architectural Lighting has received a number of prestigious B2B journalism awards. In 2017, Architectural Lighting was a Top Ten Finalist for Magazine of the Year from the American Society of Business Publication Editors' AZBEE Awards. In 2016, Donoff received the Jesse H. Neal Award for her Editor’s Comments in the category of Best Commentary/Blog, and in 2015, AL received a Jesse H. Neal Award for Best Media Brand (Overall Editorial Excellence).Prior to her entry into design journalism, Donoff worked in New York City architectural offices including FXFowle where she was part of the project teams for the Reuters Building at Three Times Square and the New York Times Headquarters. She is a graduate of Bates College in Lewiston, Me., and she earned her Master of Architecture degree from the School of Architecture at Washington University in St. Louis.
