By Claire Cushman
02/20/08
Contract magazine, a national interior design publication, has awarded the Friedman Study Center a top design award in the education category. The study center, which opened in January 2007, has already received gold medals for “Commercial Interior Design” and “Commercial Construction/Renovation” in the November 2007 issue of Rhode Island Monthly Magazine.
The New York City-based Architecture Research Office, which conducted the renovation, submitted papers detailing the new study center to a jury at Contract, said Brent Lang ’04, the library’s communication and marketing specialist. In Contract’s article about the award, panelists commented on the architect’s innovative use of materials, their effective use of a small budget, the “bright, energized, environment” and how the “integration of graphics and ideas brought a fresh new perspective.” The magazine praised the center’s combination of spaces for socializing and studying, calling it the “vibrant heart of the campus.”
According to a Feb. 13 press release, University Librarian Harriette Hemmasi said that while she is grateful to the panelists at Contract for recognizing the center, she is “most pleased that it is such a tremendous hit with the toughest jury of all – our students.” The award shows that “the Friedman plays an important role in the experience of all Brown students,” she said.
“It’s wonderful to get this kind of attention,” said Barbara Schulz, the library’s head of business and facilities services.
The magazine discussed the project with architects Stephen Cassell and Kim Yao in its article about the award. The architects told Contract that the idea behind the furnishings and use of space was to create a setting “for all of the activities that make up college life – flirting, hiding, creating and gossiping in addition to memorizing, cramming and discussing.” The architects named the flat, upholstered seats “flirtstones,” and the light-filled seating area the “tanning lounge.”
Lang remembers the Sciences Library basement as dank and dingy when he was a student as dank and dingy. “There was never anybody in there. The only plus side was that you could find a place to sit.” In the past, the Rockefeller Library typically got twice as many visits as the SciLi, he said. Last semester, the Friedman received 250,000 visits, whereas the Rock received about 200,000.
Not all students agree with the magazine’s evaluation of the study center. Jeff Sanford ’10 said he found it “impossible to concentrate because there are so many people. It seems like a lot of people just come to pass out on the couch in their sweatpants.”
“It’s like a chicken coop,” said Erik Font ’10.
Kemisha Williams ’08 said she studied in the basement before the renovation. “But now it’s too crowded,” she said.