Best Projects Award of Merit Higher Education: Mary Idema Pew Library and Learning Commons
To support retail uses, exhibitions and immersive, interactive technologies, the 150,000-sq-ft Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons incorporates a variety of group study and instructional spaces in addition to areas aimed at promoting social interaction, including a café.
The desire to better understand the personal, social and academic needs of students prompted the design team to embark on a "visioning" process begun with benchmarking trips to state-of-the-art libraries across the nation. The team later expanded its research to include retail, museum and hospitality spaces.
Along with Grand Valley's dean, team members also investigated social patterns involved in group work, casual/serendipitous work and formal work.
Mary Idema Pew Library Learning and Information Commons at Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Mich.
Key Players
Owner Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Mich.
General Contractor Pioneer Construction, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Designer SHW Group (now Stantec), Berkley, Mich.
Civil Engineer Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich.
