Home
Home

Library

Library Design Research (05-09-13)

The Society of College and University Planning (SCUP) awarded its Chapman Prize to Susan Painter, Janice Fournier, Caryn Grape, Phyllis Grummon, Jill Morelli, Susan Whitmer, and Joseph Cevetello, and they used the prize money to research how libraries (and library design) can best serve current and potential users.  SCUP quotes from their soon to be released monograph, “Research on Learning Space Design:  Present State, Future Direc

»

Red Light Has Value (05-03-13)

Researchers at Rensselaer’s Lighting Research Center have found that exposing people to reddish light during the “post-lunch dip” can be advantageous.  The “dip” is generally from 2 to 4 in the afternoon or 16-18 hours after bedtime the previous night.  Mariana Figueiro and Levent Sahin conducted a study whose “results suggest that red light positively affects measures of alertness not only at night, but also during the day . . .

»

Music and Reading Comprehension (10-17-12)

Thompson and his research team set out to learn about “the effect of background music on reading comprehension.”  

Collaboration Spaces: Lessons from a Library

Students' preferred collaborative places have unique features.

Temperature Matters (05-17-12)

Kolb, Gockel, and Werth confirmed that temperature does indeed affect behavior.

Daylighting Resources (02-29-12)

The Daylighting Cooperative has enhanced their website (http://www.daylighting.org/). 

Walking for Memory (08-16-11)

Recent research indicates that brief, brisk (but not running) walks can enhance our ability to remember things. 

Keeping the Sound In (07-29-11)

Designers are regularly asked to create spaces for confidential conversations to take place.

Listening to Music and Reading Comprehension (04-13-11)

Johansson and his colleagues have studied how important music selection is when it is broadcast in areas where people are trying to concentrate.

Office Plants: Worth the Fertilizer? (01-21-11)

As snow covers most of North America, and office workers’ views of nearby nature are shrouded under a thick white blanket, thoughts turn to potted plants in offices.