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does not need to be carried out indoors at all. Before purchasing furniture, Kevin believes those responsible for procurement should think outside the box. “Modern classrooms do not necessarily have four walls any more, so consider whether furniture can be taken outdoors and whether it is waterproof, able to be cleaned if made dirty and will it be damaged by sunlight? Fundamentally, is it sufficiently durable to go through all of this and remain comfortable for years to come?” Looking forward is also key when
kiting out a library – the room in any school subject to the greatest change in recent years and likely to be changed most in the future. It is widely acknowledged libraries are in a transitional phase: the ever-advancing digital world brings many pressures on them to remain up-to-date and relevant, balancing digital and traditional offerings and providing a functional space with support for the teaching environment. Libraries will, however, remain an
important part of any school given their strong links to academic achievement and their centrality in encouraging reading for pleasure and improving literacy. However, as learning methods evolve and technology becomes a larger part of life in general, there are demands for further support, such as power sockets, mobile device chargers, group study hubs and iPad/tablet loan and storage facilities. Gresswell is aware of this: furniture
solutions incorporating extra sockets and charger points are key, but these are not the only considerations. It is now essential that as well as being atractive and inviting, furniture layouts are easily reconfigurable – enabling the library space to be quickly converted for other uses, such as meetings, presentations and fundraising events. Some of the solutions proposed by Gresswell include mobile units and screening, interconnecting and folding tables, stackable chairs, comfortable, lightweight, bean-bags, mobile “power towers”, iPad stands and trolleys. Michaela Lancaster, Demco Interiors’
ABOVE: a variety of work surfaces, work areas and furniture solutions from Demco (top and bottom) and Gresswell (middle)
senior design manager, echoes this need for adaptability. Her company’s approach to designing and furnishing school library and classroom spaces focuses on the importance of managing electronic and physical resources, where traditional book stock sits on easy-to- see display shelves alongside interactive screens, iPad bounce bars, tablet shelves, green screens for filming and multi-
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