The OHLS District partnered with The Collaborative to assess their existing Library and ancillary services and implement a comprehensive Learning Commons.

In the initial investigations, it became clear that space constraints might exist in the second-floor location of the existing facility. Enthusiasm around an alternative idea for re-purposing the schools underutilized central courtyard quickly took hold. The new location offered that space necessary to accommodate the goals of the project, and perhaps most importantly, it offered a space that could be transformed into a centrally located and highly prominent resource for the students and community of Ottawa Hills.

Key areas of focus for the Study included:

• Creation of a new Learning Commons within the existing courtyard and adjacent spaces, with a focus on a destination space that fosters community, comfort, creation, and collaboration.
• Design of a new science lab to replace the existing lab being displaced through the creation of the new Learning Commons.
• Potential finish upgrades to the existing science labs.
• Design of an air conditioning strategy / system for the building.
• Improved ADA accessibility.

Design: The Collaborative
Contractor: Rudolph Libbe
Furniture Detailer: NBS
Photography: Matthew McNulty