If you’ve ever stood in the Library stairwell, you know it gets a lot of traffic—but it’s also a bit bare. Our upper floors hold crucial print collections and academic support services, but a lack of visual cues can make the building tough to navigate. That’s why we are thrilled to announce a new initiative to transform our central stairwell into a vibrant, illustrated pathway that helps people orient themselves within the space.
Toby Strider holds a collaborative drawing from the mural workshop.
Bringing this vision to life is a true team effort, made possible by two key grants:
- The Spark Award: We were initially honored with a Spark Award through PSU’s Planning, Sustainability, and Logistics (PSL) department.
- Oregon Arts Commission Grant: We are happy to say we successfully secured a grant from the Oregon Arts Commission to fully fuel the project!
This spring, the library received artist proposals and ultimately selected local artist, Nicky Kriara. Nicky led a workshop in early June with PSU students, exploring how visual design can complement our existing signage and improve spatial flow. This collaborative brainstorming session is now being translated into mural concepts.
The PSU Library welcomes hundreds of visitors daily – including our wonderfully diverse student body, local researchers, and neighbors from the Park Blocks cultural corridor. While a full library building renovation may be down the road, we aren’t waiting to make our space better. By adding these functional, artistic updates now, we are creating a less intimidating, easier-to-use, and more inclusive environment for everyone who walks through our doors.
Keep an eye out for updates as the final designs take shape and the paint starts to dry.
Check out the prompts from the workshop – how would you answer these?
1) Movement Symbols
Create at least three simple symbols from the list below that represent different types of movement or spatial experience within the library. Your symbols can be abstract.
- Fast movement
- Pause / Rest
- Confusion
- Focus
- Wandering
- Transition
- Gathering
- Discovery
2) Colors
Choose three colors that make you feel comfortable, focused, or welcome in a shared learning space.