The design for the newly-renovated Gil Blum Library Media Center at South High School has received an award for Outstanding Design in Interior Renovation through the American School & University Design Competition. This renovation project was designed by BBS Architects, Landscape Architects & Engineers, PC.
The award-winning project is featured in the 2020 Educational Interior Showcase, which appears in the August edition of American School & University magazine.
The publication’s description of the space reads: “Designed around transparency and connectivity, the Great Neck South High School Library is an inviting learning commons space and vibrant campus hub that connects students and educators with the world of new media and technology, both as a physical space and a virtual space.”
The BBS design team consulted with South High students, educators, library media specialists, and administrators as part of the planning process. The final design boasts state-of-the-art technology with differentiated zones for individual focus as well as settings for small and large-group instruction.
“We congratulate BBS Architects on their award-winning design, and we thank our community for their ongoing support of our capital projects,” says Superintendent of Schools Dr. Teresa Prendergast. “Together, we’re providing our students with safe and innovative learning spaces that meet the demands of a 21st century education.”
The South High Library Media Center was one of several educational and building enhancement projects funded through the 2017 Bond Referendum. BBS Architects designed the space, and Savin Engineers managed all phases of construction and coordinated the timely execution of the project according to specifications. The Library Media Center was completed during the 2019–20 school year.
Entries in this American School & University Design Competition were adjudicated by four judges, representing school administrators, designers, architects, and construction project managers. Submissions were reviewed based on the following criteria: clear project vision and organizational strategy; interior materials appropriate for age group and school identity; flexible and adaptable spaces; considerations for safety and security; spaces responsive to various learning modalities; durability and ease of maintenance; and responsiveness to community needs and desires.
