Robert W. Woodruff Library
The Robert W. Woodruff Library serves the Atlanta University Center, a unique gathering of institutions, including Clark Atlanta University, the Interdenominational Theological Center, Morehouse College, and Spelman College. It is known on campus as the “center of the academic village…in support of teaching and learning, scholarship, and cultural preservation.”
The Challenge
The library wanted to create a new green space that would serve as an outdoor extension of the library, a collaborative place for students and professors, and a space for special events. The street and existing pedestrian promenade would also be closed and extended to better connect the academic village.
The Solution
With input from library management and students, Barge Design Solutions developed a plan for the space which extended the Library’s mission beyond the walls and into a new Campus Green.
The new plaza features multiple study rooms for small gatherings, an amphitheater for performances, and an enclosed dining patio. The design also strengthened the existing promenade, connecting the Library to other sites within the University Center, and incorporated original paving concepts based on African basket weave designs. Landscaping included a rain garden a shade structure over larger gathering spaces.
The Barge Factor
A strong portfolio of higher education and campus planning, along with placemaking experience and ability, provided a level of comfort and stability with the client.