Brown Bookstore at Brown University

Designed with a welcoming consumer experience, the Brown Bookstore renovation transforms the space for Brunonians and their neighboring community.

When Brown University realized that it was time for a major update to their campus bookstore, they enlisted Bergmeyer for the task. The bookstore had lost its luster and was desperately in need of a new retail design that would elevate the brand and appeal to students, faculty and staff, and residents alike.

Understanding that shoppers’ impressions form on the street, Bergmeyer’s design strategy started outside the building. A bold new signage system and additional entries at the café and the back of the building gave a new street presence to the store. By pulling product displays back from the windows, light and activity can be seen from the street, beckoning and enticing passersby.

Inside, the store now feels like a bustling neighborhood bookshop. By removing display cases and relocating the cash desk, first floor spaces were made airy and bright, and signage makes it easy for visitors to find their destination — once they can tear themselves away from browsing the newly highlighted general books section. Two central stairways provide visual connection and a clear path of circulation between floors. The store is also equipped with a campus shop, café, kids’ area, a community meeting room, and multiple seating areas that redefine the bookstore experience and encourage interaction between the university community and residents.

Awards

• VMSD Award for Design Excellence

• VMSD Retail Renovation Awards — Honorable Mention, Specialty Store, Sales Area Over 10,000 sf