Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Boston University School of Medicine: Alumni Medical Library

  • 07/01/19
Boston Univeristy School of Medicine 

PHOTOS © JANE MESSINGER

The Boston University (BU) School of Medicine’s Alumni Medical Library serves the university’s Schools of Medicine, Public Health, and the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine and is located on floors 11-13 of the School of Medicine’s “L” instructional building. Finegold Alexander Architects reimagined the 13th floor—largely a stack level—as the new Learning Resource Center. The $3.5 million, fast-tracked project was completed while the building was occupied.

The existing spaces had not been substantially renovated since their late-1960s construction. Harsh fluorescent lighting, insufficient utilitarian study tables and carrels, and vast areas of book stacks occupied the 13,000-square-foot floor plate. The library’s users range from first-year medical students and Ph.D. students to residents and researchers, dentists, and oral surgeons. This diverse body reflects a variety of learning styles and curricula. Typically, students spend long stretches of time with dense material—this is focused, heads-down study. Working with the Dean’s Council, a quiet study floor with varied options was created.

The design for the 13th floor called for a complete gut/renovation to address a diverse set of needs while also opening the floor plan and improving circulation throughout the library. The program offers a variety of space types including acoustically isolated group study rooms, large carrels, sound-isolated booths, and comfortable pods and banquettes for lengthy study or naps. All the spaces are well integrated with technology, lighting, and comfortable furniture.

Display space for medical artifacts and rare books allows BU to showcase their history. The concrete walls surrounding the stair linking the main library floors were demolished and replaced with laminated glazing to enable the penetration of light through the space while providing acoustic isolation and visibility across the floor. Natural wood, soft flooring, abundant natural light, and touches of BU red create a calming yet vibrant space.

This article originally appeared in the College Planning & Management July/August 2019 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Campus Safety Requires Using Every Resource Available

    Across the U.S., school and campus leaders are facing a security landscape that has changed dramatically over the past decade. Incidents on school property have increased in recent years, with several consecutive years setting record totals. According to analysis of data by CNN, dozens of shootings now occur on school grounds annually across K-12 and higher education environments.

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.

  • Embry-Riddle Completes Construction on Research, Lab Facility

    Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach, Fla., recently announced the end of construction on a new research and lab facility on campus. The Center for Aerospace Engineering II (CAT II) will support aerospace research and technology development and broke ground last summer.

  • AAADM Announces Building Safety Month Initiatives

    The American Association of Automatic Door Manufacturers (AAADM) recently announced its support of Building Safety Month as declared by the International Code Council (ICC), according to a news release.