Uniondale High School

Uniondale, NY

As part of an effort to modernize their aging existing High School, Uniondale School District transformed their existing Library into a state-of-the-art Media Center. The new Media Center provides students and faculty with a flexible and modern environment for learning. Equipped with furniture of varying heights, shapes, and sizes, the Media Center offers an assortment of ways for students to collaborate. Mobile furniture, bookshelves on casters, and operable partitions are used to define the space, allowing students to choose the environment that best suits their learning needs.

As they enter the space, students are greeted by a sweeping circulation desk, a playful curved ceiling and lighting design, and curved lounge seating for informal gathering. Bar-height tables and chairs along the window wall provide individual study areas for the students. The left side of the center features small group learning areas, both open and enclosed. These areas are designed for small to mid-size groups of around 4-18 students and provide a secluded space for them to work collaboratively. The operable partition in the enclosed group space provides further flexibility for the students to adapt the size of the space to fit their goals. The stand-alone bookshelves are all on casters, allowing them to be relocated to accommodate for large presentations and lectures for around 60 students.

The right side of the center features a Makerspace adjacent to the circulation desk. This space, planned to feature equipment such as computers and 3D printers, will allow students to push the boundaries of creativity, providing students with hands-on learning opportunities that are increasingly in demand today. The adjacent glazed operable partition defines a large group/lecture space, which can be used to teach the technology skills needed to make full use of the equipment in the Makerspace.

The Media Center at Uniondale High School was driven by a vision of modernization and innovation, creating a dynamic space that integrates student growth and learning. This state-of-the-art facility empowers students to collaborate, think creatively, and engage in a multitude of learning experiences, all while helping them develop crucial skills in demand for the future.

Awards
American School and University Magazine – Outstanding Design 2025