Between 1886 and 1919, Andrew Carnegie established the most significant and enduring legacy of philanthropy in America. The creation of the Carnegie libraries gave millions of Americans their first access to free information and education. By leasing the library to the Children’s Museum of Southern Oregon (TCMSO), the City of Medford has continued that legacy. Once again, the library will be a place of learning and discovery for the citizens of Medford.

To meet the needs of the early learners wandering the property, TCMSO has significantly improved the grounds. At every turn, we kept a careful eye on preserving the legacy and history of the building. To guide us in the design of the outdoor space, we have injected thematic elements from the US Parks Services public works constructed in the 1930s. Like Carnegie’s libraries, these structures live in the collective consciousness of the American citizen and form a significant touchstone of our culture.

The outdoor learning environment is bisected into two classrooms, each offering the same opportunities for learning and discovery. Working with the staff at TCMSO, Terrain provided areas of gross-motor play, fine-motor development, and flexible loose-parts spaces. Each classroom has access to a sand pit play area, complete with a boulder scramble. At each end, teachers can gather the students in a dedicated teaching space for stories, lessons, and sharing. In addition, a community garden is shared between the classrooms, where kids can learn and grow.

By updating the grounds and bringing families down into the urban core, the TCMSO realizes the vision of the Medford Urban Renewal Agency by activating the urban core. Bringing families into the heart of Medford is already providing more traffic to local stores and restaurants, increasing property values, and alleviating urban blight. In addition, as children wander the halls and grounds of the Carnegie library, the original mission of learning has been revived, and Rogue Valley families are once again using the Carnegie library.