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Insight — Libraries / Learning Spaces :

As planners and designers of over 5 million square feet of library and learning space in the past 10 years alone, Pfeiffer is among the most experienced firms practicing today, on projects in the U.S. and abroad. Under the leadership of Principal Gili Meerovitch, this area of our practice has expanded to include not only facility programming and design for renovation or new construction, but also strategic planning and increasingly master plans intended for phased implementation.

"My awareness of the built environment and approach to Interiors is informed with curiosity and a deep interest in the behaviors of the end users, leading to the passion I have today for creating and experiencing cultural and learning environments." — Gili Meerovitch, Principal

Areas in which we excel:

Learner-centered environments
Personalized learning
Active learning and on-line course delivery
Paradigm Shift – planning for behaviors
Flexible multi-use spaces
Libraries as institutional technology platforms
Multi-media collaboration and maker spaces
Blended environments/academic partners
Dedicated and multi-purpose learning spaces
Informal learning spaces
Interconnectedness—global thinking/simulation & visualization
Collection development, management and storage
Special collections environments and access
Library service delivery evolution/academic support
Space for Interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary engagement
Research support/serving grad students and faculty

Our contemporary education ecosystem is exceedingly challenged by the traditional model in which resources are allocated based on standards for past libraries. New realities will require a new mindset. Academic libraries today need to reflect the comprehensive change in how higher education is delivered in the 21st century

"Clients desire distinctive spaces that reflect their particular culture and aesthetic. To achieve this, we craft a design narrative through words and pictures of what inspires us about a particular project. This narrative is informed by a region’s location, history, context and environmental features, at times paying homage to the heritage, customs and legacies of an area. Such inventive interiors that are “place based” create a highly memorable experience for audiences, performers, students, faculty and visitors alike."

Our human-centric approach

I believe that functional, practical, smart interior spaces must be conceived not only in response to a programmatic need but also with an explicit intent to inspire and enrich the experience of their users and patrons. This is particularly true for academic libraries and educational environments.

We are designing learning environments at a time when information is abundant yet funding scarce; when technology is adapting to people rather than vice versa, and students learn through connectivity and collaboration. Our human-centric approach combined with our interest in how the architecture of space can inspire, foster curiosity and enhance lifelong learning, continues to inform our work.