The new library for Scarsdale High School was created inside the volume of an early 20th-century double-height gymnasium, positioned above the cafeteria at the center of the school. 

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The plan for the 12,800 sf library is derived from the simple 60x90-foot rectangle of the original gymnasium. A new mezzanine was inserted into the volume of the original space.  It surrounds the main floor of the library and is connected to the main level by two open staircases at each end.  With this configuration, most of the library can be seen and supervised from both the main and mezzanine levels.  A new roof is raised above the mezzanine.  Translucent clerestory windows in the walls supporting the roof flood the library with soft, natural light. 

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The library accommodates an extraordinary variety of activities simultaneously in a space that is easily serviced and supervised by a small staff.  It serves students working independently, those collaborating on projects (which often require quiet research), and students receiving instruction in the library's two classrooms.  Because of its adjacency to the cafeteria and common spaces, the library is a place of constant student activity and engagement.

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Project Information