The first in a series of articles that have enabled this high school library to thrive –
by David Di Gregorio, Supervisor of Library-Media-Broadcast, The Arts, Engineering-Design
In 1996, I was charged with bringing Tenafly High School’s library media center into the 21th century. One of many components that helped make this possible may seem deceptively simple: seating.
Our library is a large, central space in the building, with a second-story balcony that runs its 30-meter length and overlooks the main floor. One day, the principal, vice principal, and I stood on that balcony observing students below. At the time, the main floor was furnished with round tables seating four or five students.
We noticed social behavior. Students tended to sit together and often with others of the same ethnicity. This led to an important discussion: could the physical environment encourage a different kind of interaction?
Two models came to mind. One was the Stammtisch, common in Germany and in a few New York City restaurants, large communal tables that invite proximity without forcing interaction. The other was the Apple Store, with its long rectangular tables designed to make shared space feel natural rather than awkward. Such seating is a stage for the known and unknown to come together.
The idea was simple: large tables allow students to sit near one another comfortably, even if they don’t know each other. From that conversation, the direction was clear.
I contacted the company that fabricated the Apple Store tables and learned each cost approximately $14,000—clearly not an option. I then spoke with a key member of our Buildings and Grounds Department, someone who knows every service vendor in the area. He suggested an approach that proved transformative: work with a local welder for the bases and a kitchen counter company for the surfaces.
Using a detailed schematic, we fabricated five-leg steel bases measuring approximately 5 meters by 1⅔ meters. For the surfaces, we selected Staron, a Corian-type material manufactured by Samsung, durable, repairable, and far superior to laminate over particleboard, which peels and degrades over time despite its high vendor markup.
With generous support from our Home School Association, we fabricated six tables at a cost of about $3,000 each.
Today, more than 15 years later, those tables look as good as they did on day one.
More importantly, when we stand on the second level and observe the space below, we see tables filled with a wide variety of students. Different backgrounds. Different groups. Shared space.
We are sure that, through intentional design choices, unexpected conversations and friendships have formed over those tables and relationships have been enriched.
