Issue Briefs

Designed to Thrive: How Media Centers Have Evolved

By Paola Moore, ALEP

Imagine seeing 100% improvement in student’s reading rates in just a few months. Imagine transforming spaces once only utilized by eight kids a day to media centers bustling at maximum capacity for six hours of the day. That’s what is happening at the School District of Indian River County in Vero Beach, FL where environments were designed under MooreCo’s Thrive Philosophy.

District leaders noticed dwindling library engagement and enlisted Senior Digital Innovation Administrator Kerri Wall to revitalize these spaces. Facing the challenge of preparing students for a future where 80% of jobs will be STEAM-based, Wall envisioned media spaces that were more than just technologically up-to-date—they needed to be inviting environments where students would willingly gather. Her goal was clear: improve engagement—student to student, student to teacher, and student to materials.

“We received various proposals to furnish the spaces. I told them I need more than just your flashy furniture and a low bid. I need to know your culture. I need to know the theories behind it. This is where MooreCo’s Thrive Philosophy stood out. It gave us the verbiage we needed to talk about what our goal was, which was much more than just flexible seating,” explains Ms. Wall.

Developed in 2019, MooreCo’s evidence based Thrive Philosophy, centers on six key areas of human development. Thrive adapts to the changes and challenges 21st-century learners face. It centers on adaptive and agile spaces in which furnishings and tools meet the physical, sensory, and emotional needs of multiple users and creates dynamic spaces where students can nurture innovative thinking while preparing them for the future workforce.

A collaborative approach involving students, faculty, and leadership teams brought Wall’s vision to life. The media centers at Sebastian River and Vero Beach High Schools were transformed into social spaces to support collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving. The design process ensured that each concern and need was met, from flexible furniture options to cutting-edge technology integration. Every aspect of the redesign was carefully considered to maximize functionality and engagement. “It’s incredible to see students taking ownership of their learning space,” Ms. Wall says. “They understand it’s theirs, and that empowers them to use it responsibly and creatively.”

Thrive prioritizes the emotional connection students have to their spaces. Emotional comfort and safety are key to productivity and creativity. By offering functional and inviting spaces, the new media centers became the heart of student life. Lounge spaces, workspaces, and multi-use classrooms were carved out to cater to different student activities and needs. A student technology center, spaces for office aids, and student-run clubs are now available.

“There is a coffee shop where seniors now gather during flex periods.” Wall explains, as students would leave to a nearby Burger King before. Today, they remain safely on campus with access to counselors and other resources they didn’t previously have. “Students love having ownership over this corner of the school; they gravitate towards it,” added Wall. Dodgertown Elementary School, also in Vero Beach, now brings the books to the students in the form of 200-book classroom libraries and a traveling media cart. The nearly complete “STEAM Park” now houses STEAM-related books grouped by genre and equipment placed on shelves making it a tangible experience. Teachers and students can see, touch, and generate ideas. When students interested in space find engineering books about building spaceships next to fictional sci-fi novels, readership skyrockets. The value of the information tucked away in books hasn’t depleted, but the ways in which students consume it has and school libraries must adapt. A new era of vibrant, lively media centers with technology, maker spaces, natural light, and agile furniture has emerged. Each STEAM Park station is outfitted with a high mix of flexible seating options and adaptive workspaces, guaranteeing each student can explore and find their ideal learning set up. The space is at maximum student capacity daily and has transformed how students use the media space and its resources.

One of the most significant transformations lies not in the physical space but in the mindset shift. Media specialists, once hesitant to lose the library, are now embracing their new roles as facilitators and guides, creating engaging activities and supporting student-led initiatives.”

“This is where MooreCo’s Thrive Philosophy stood out. It gave us the verbiage we needed to talk about what our goal was.”
—Kerri Wall

Design firm O’Connell Robertson approached MooreCo to outfit 15 elementary school libraries in the Waco, TX area. Familiar with the Thrive Philosophy, designers had to accommodate multiple activities the schools wished to host in the library, and the “posture” students would partake in each. Furniture solutions blended flexible and ergonomic options for sitting, standing, lounging, and floor that enabled students to find how they learn best and interact with the environment.

As we continue to introduce Thrive into schools across the country, Indian River County and Waco school districts, serve as shining examples of what is possible when innovative design meets a commitment to student success. We are proud to have played a role in these transformations and look forward to continuing to support educators in creating dynamic learning environments for everyone to Thrive.

“We appreciate a company who can come in and make us feel good,” Ms. Wall said.

Paola Moore, ALEP, Senior VP of Product Development & Marketing, has over 25 years of expertise in research, product design & business development. Creator of Thrive by MooreCo, a research-driven design philosophy focused on human-centered development and innovation.