A 21st Century Learning Destination

Creating a shift from traditional media center toward a more collaborative, student-focused space.

Kentwood Public Schools was looking to shift from traditional media centers toward more collaborative, student-focused spaces in their district. The Freshman campus building in particular was lacking a space that supported 21st century learning and collaboration. The building had a traditional media center with a large book collection that emphasized individual work, but the space was not suitable for group work or class instruction. This project repurposed under-utilized classrooms and storage areas to create a new collaboration center with a central location off the main circulation spine of the building.

The new space is truly a learning destination that allows for individual work, full class instruction, and the ability for groups of various sizes to meet. A large open space features flexible furniture, screen-sharing technology, and breakout rooms. A presentation platform supports group instruction, while mobile lecterns and a variety of furniture configurations allow for multiple classes to use the space simultaneously. This project transformed unused square footage into a modern space that supports the overall district vision for a 21st century learning environment.