A place to come together
Frederick E. Berry Library and Learning Commons
Salem State University
Salem, MA
The Frederick E. Berry Library and Learning Commons defines a new academic quad for Salem State’s North Campus and meets an urgent need for a replacement library to serve the University’s five campuses.
A vibrant and welcoming academic crossroads, the library features spaces for scholarship and collaboration, and is designed to accommodate changes in research and technology. Designed to serve a diverse student body across five campuses, the Berry Library provides centralized access to academic support in a location that is easily accessible to commuter and first‑generation students, supporting equitable student success outcomes.
The library is sited to take advantage of a largely unused central space to define the new quad, strengthening the identity of the North Campus as the University’s academic heart, while creating a route that joins the upper and lower levels of the campus.
The project was designed with a range of environmental features, including a vertical closed-loop geothermal system and a recycled, regional, and healthy materials palette. High-performance curtain wall façades allow natural light to illuminate the reading and seating areas along the north and east-facing portions of the building. This, combined with the sky-lit central atrium, welcome daylight into gathering areas and create inviting places that attract learners from every corner of the university.
It’s very different from other libraries I’ve worked in that were built in the 70s, 80s, 90s, that were built first for the books, then for the people.
The learning commons integrates university resources with library services to provide a comprehensive and supportive learning environment. It provides comprehensive academic support, integrating library services with multiple student-facing resources, including the Learning Center, Writing Center, Academic Advising, Testing Lab, Honors Program, and the Office for Students with Disabilities. Co‑locating these services within a single facility simplifies access and encourages students to engage with academic resources early and often. This concentration of services supports retention, persistence, and equitable access to academic support.
Meet the Team
Andre Kamili, AIA, LEED AP
Principal
Andre is a senior member of the firm’s healthcare design practice, with a diverse design portfolio that includes master planning, clinical planning, design for academic medical centers and children’s hospitals.
Janette S. Blackburn, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP
Principal
Janette’s award-winning higher education work is informed by a deep understanding of campus life and learning environments and the variety of programs supporting community within colleges and universities.
Kelly Karpinsky, AIA, LEED AP
Principal
An accomplished library designer, programmer, and planner, Kelly has worked on a wide range of collegiate libraries and learning commons throughout the United States and internationally.
Sidney R. Bowen III, AIA
Consulting Principal
For fifteen years Sid served as the firm’s Managing Principal, with a focus on assuring that Shepley is successful as a business, able to attract and support talented professionals in service to its clients.