New furnishings brighten the interior of Lockwood Library
Lockwood Memorial Library has long been a favorite destination for the University at Buffalo community. But after more than four decades, the library’s interior was showing its age. Many of the building’s furnishings had been in place since 1978 when the library moved from its original location on UB’s South Campus to the center of the academic spine on the North Campus. Happily, thanks to several recent updates and improvements throughout the building, Lockwood’s familiar surroundings now feature a bold, fresh look.
Step into the library’s second-floor entrance lobby, and you’ll immediately notice visible signs of the many changes that have taken place within this space. One of the most noticeable differences is the location of the library services desk—the reconfigured desk now occupies a central spot in the heart of the lobby and serves as a home for library staff who are available to welcome users, answer questions, and provide information about library services and collections. Throughout the lobby upholstered lounge seating provides a selection of informal gathering spaces, and new display tables invite visitors to browse topical selections of books from the library’s collections.
Book display in Lockwood Lobby
Directly across from the elevators, a row of high-top seating with power stations overlooks the outdoor atrium area. Several new café-style tables with matching chairs enhance the second floor. The tables and chairs serve as quick touchdown workspaces and provide comfortable gathering places where students, faculty and visitors can meet to enjoy informal conversations with friends and colleagues.
Head to Lockwood’s upper floors and you’ll discover a combination of comfort and utilitarianism; plenty of upholstered seating offers library users a choice of privacy ranges. More traditional workspaces feature semi-opaque privacy screens, allowing light to filter through while maintaining an open and airy feel. Drawing on concepts of nature, the new concrete-inspired flooring is interwoven with cobblestone and moss-covered tiles. Moveable pull-up worktables, equipped with hooks for backpacks and bags, add another level of convenience for students.
Juxtaposing modern, sleek lines and metal accents with the warm wood tones of new furniture pieces reinvigorates the look and feel
of the library. Additional updates planned for Lockwood Memorial Library include globe pendant lighting to brighten study spaces, a fresh coat of paint to refresh high-traffic areas, more power outlets to support technology needs, and mobile whiteboards to accommodate group collaboration.
Marnie Mancuso, facilities planning and management officer for the University Libraries, sums up the project this way: “Each floor in Lockwood Library has a distinct feel and function, and as students explore, they will decide which floor suits them best. Students can choose to study in a casual space on the first and second floors, an open group study space on the third floor, a modern and bright space on the fourth floor, or a soothing, quiet space on the fifth floor.” The recent updates to Lockwood’s interior spaces directly respond to the ways in which UB students learn today and reinforce the library’s role as a vital center for communication, collaboration and discovery. Stop by soon and say hello!