West Irondequoit Central School District Library-Media Center Renovation

Feb 28

A top priority coming out of the Educational Environment Strategy Master Plan, Vaysen Studio continued their collaboration with West Irondequoit Central School District and CPL Architects leading educational planning and interior design for the Library Media Centers at Iroquois Middle School and the combined building for Rogers Middle School/Southlawn Elementary School.

Through a comprehensive visioning process building on principles established in the Master Plan, goals were established to transform the Library Media Centers into a contemporary environment that nurtures students’ curiosity within a visually captivating setting. By promoting collaborative efforts among students, we aimed to strike a balance between fostering individual growth and providing a secure sanctuary they can call their own. The strategic utilization of color within this space will serve as a catalyst for inspiring a sense of awe and wonder, thereby fostering an environment conducive to innovative thinking and creative exploration.

Student engagement was a guiding force in the project from initial planning all the way through furniture selection. By working through exploratory design questions at the levels of district administration, staff, and students we were able to challenge assumptions on what students gravitate towards and their preferences. Soft, grounding colors and textures were a key theme for students in their interactive furniture design session where they got to do hands on interaction with samples to explore both the form and function.

Iroquois Middle School LMC opened in August 2025, with Rogers/ Southlawn due to follow just a few months later. So far, the space is celebrated as the happiest and brightest in the school. The library has experienced a dramatic increase in the number of books checked out which students and librarians attribute to the stacks feeling more accessible at the student level and layout providing a sense of exploration.