Category: Community

The stories inside the library

by Jennifer Bobbitt, CPSM

“Does anyone ever realize life while they live it… every, every minute?” — Our Town

Some towns reveal themselves in landmarks. Others reveal themselves in the people who gather, linger, and return. Canal Winchester has always been a place shaped by connection, and the new library feels like a natural expression of that spirit. Step inside, and it becomes clear this is more than a place to find books. It is a place where daily life comes into focus.

Photography ©️Brad Feinknopf

Libraries hold many stories.  From the books on the shelves to the people who move through the space. It holds imagination, facts, relationships, quiet hopes, and the ordinary moments that give a community its character. In the library wonder sits beside stillness under the roof of belonging.

Conversation shares space with concentration. Play unfolds within view of rest. The building supports all of it without asking anyone to explain why they came or what they need. A true third place does more than welcome people in. It makes room for the many ways they arrive: curious, tired, playful, focused, social, quiet. It invites gathering without pressure, learning without pretense, and belonging without explanation. In Canal Winchester, the new library feels less like a destination and more like a shared living room for the town. During several recent photo shoot visits, the building revealed its real story not through architecture alone, but through the people moving through it: Together, they gave the space its pulse. This is their story.

Photography ©️Brad Feinknopf

“All children, except one, grow up.” —Peter Pan

Every Tuesday, story time transforms the library into something wonderfully alive. The walls of the three flex rooms open wide, tables and chairs line the perimeter, and the room fills with the joyful energy of toddlers, infants, and the adults caring for them. Sunlight washes across the space as mothers, fathers, and grandparents find their place. Some of the kids recognize each other and hug or do a happy dance. Around them, caregivers exchange smiles, nods, and a quiet sense of recognition born from the shared rhythm of caring for young children. Maybe this is part of a weekly routine. Maybe it is a special outing. Some of the very young wake up when the singing and movement begin. I imagine how wonderful it must feel to be asleep and wake up in this magical place, surrounded by joy. There is no transaction to rush, no expectation to spend, no need to find just the right channel. There is only time to wander, dance, laugh, and let memory quietly take shape.

Photography ©️Brad Feinknopf

“Just keep swimming.” — Finding Nemo

There is a large double-sided fish tank in the children’s area that gets a lot of attention. Two children stand on opposite sides, following flashes of color and movement, noticing both the fish and each other through the glass. It is a small moment, but it says a great deal about what makes a library memorable. Discovery begins long before a child sits down with a book. It begins with curiosity, delight, and the feeling that this is a place where paying attention is rewarded. Nearby, a mother balancing a coffee and a toddler turns for a moment to help another child. In that brief pause, the toddler at the tank spots a book displayed at just the right height, pulls it from the shelf, and hurries back to her mom. It is a quiet reminder that in a well-loved children’s space, wonder and reading are never far apart.

Photography ©️Brad Feinknopf

“Let the wild rumpus start!”— Where the Wild Things Are

Nearby, a young brother and sister turn S-shaped seating into a landscape for hide-and-seek. Their movement feels natural here, not disruptive. They take turns hiding in different seating areas, counting quietly before announcing: ready or not, here I come! Did the interior designer envision this scenario when this unique piece of furniture was placed next to the rows of books? The space naturally absorbs their energy instead of pushing it away. The design leaves room for joy; it tells children and families they are not simply being accommodated. They are welcome. The library becomes part of childhood not only as a place for learning, but as a place that feels good to remember and seek.

Photography ©️Brad Feinknopf

“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life…”— Little Women

Inside the open entrance, one woman checks out a stack of breadmaking books. Is she learning something new or returning to something familiar? Is this the day she woke up and decided to make her dreams about owning a bakery a reality? The stack of books is larger than several loaves of sourdough. She’s likely on the cusp of something great, something life-changing. Or, maybe she’s entering her bread era. The moment is modest, yet it reflects one of the library’s most generous strengths. It supports the kinds of learning that do not always announce themselves as ambition. The library honors all of it, offering access, inspiration, and possibility in equal measure.

Photography ©️Brad Feinknopf

“You have been my friend.”— Charlotte’s Web

Across the room, two women lean over a laptop in deep conversation. They are surrounded by shelves of fresh books in front of large windows, filling the space with light on a cold morning. Maybe they are working through a practical problem. Maybe they are planning something important. Maybe one is helping the other navigate a difficult season. The beauty of the library is that it holds space for these moments, too. It is not only a place for individual use. It is a place where people can think together, support one another, and sit with both purpose and care. In that way, the library strengthens the community not only through what it provides, but through what it allows to unfold.

Photography ©️Brad Feinknopf

“Stay gold…” — The Outsiders

The teen area does not fill all at once. It gathers slowly, shaped by the rhythm of school days, rehearsals, and after-school commitments, just as library staff had described. Then, almost without notice, it rumbles to life. A few teens settle in with homework. Others drift toward games, crafts, or conversation. Some seem like close friends. Others may simply know this is a good place to land before heading home. What matters is not how they arrived, but how easily they belong once they do. They inhabit the space with a comfort that feels both ordinary and natural. Young people need places where they do not feel like outsiders, where they can be visible without feeling watched, social without being managed, and independent without being isolated. They need places where they are not treated as a problem to be solved, but as part of the community’s story. A library that makes room for that offers something lasting: trust. Later, a mother appears carrying a few books and a younger sibling, softly reminding one teen it is time to go. As they exit, a wave and a smile mark their departure. And so, the friendship is acknowledged.

Photography ©️Brad Feinknopf

“Call me Ishmael.”— Moby-Dick

In a single study space, an older man rests alone with his open laptop, his coffee thermos, and his backpack. He may be reading, or maybe he is a famous author about to complete his next great book. His worn shoes and silver flowing hair indicate he likely has many great stories to tell. Whatever brought him there, the space meets him with dignity. Not everyone comes to the library for activity or interaction. Some come for calm, privacy, and relief. The library honors that too. It recognizes that community is not only built through conversation. Sometimes it is built by simply being welcoming.

“We all know that something is eternal.” — Our Town

Libraries are often described by what they hold, but just as often, they are defined by how they make people feel. Part of that feeling comes from the staff, not simply as caretakers of the space, but as hosts, neighbors, and part of the community itself.

During one of the photo shoot visits, a conversation about shared West Virginia roots drifted across the front desk, and a staff member nearby joined in. He was from the same hometown. The exchange moved quickly into the kind of shared memories that make a place feel instantly smaller and more familiar: the landmarks, routines, and local details that linger long after people leave. It was a quiet reminder that communities are often held together by invisible strings, the unexpected points of connection that make strangers feel less like strangers. That sense of connection echoed elsewhere. The photographer pointed out his wife’s artwork prominently on display inside the library. Around the room, staff greeted patrons not with stiffness or correction, but with the easy attentiveness of people who want others to feel at ease. They were not there simply to manage the space. They were helping shape its spirit.

Photography ©️Brad Feinknopf

These are not just stories about people in a library. They are scenes from a town learning how to hold many kinds of people well. Places like this matter. They hold the everyday moments that help people feel connected to where they live and to one another. They offer room for discovery, comfort, conversation, and pause. They remind us that belonging does not come from sameness. It comes from being welcomed as you are.

Photography ©️Brad Feinknopf

Designing Healthier Homes : Wellogy Design Charette and UC Class Engagement Reveal Top 3 Concepts

by Jennifer M. Bobbitt

The guiding principle of our work is to “create places of well-being to enrich people’s lives.” Driven by this ideal, our trademarked concept, Healthy Urbanism™, is integrating intentionally designed elements that help communities thrive and prosper. We promote the healthy outcomes of communities by working with partners engaged in designing a better way to live.

Wellogy (formerly Davis Wince, Ltd.) has been working with healthy home concepts for several years. We’ve partnered with home builders, manufacturers of home materials, and town planners to design a template for incorporating wellness into the home. Senior planners, designers, and seasoned veterans in their fields with knowledge and experience have all contributed to our mission to design healthier homes in pursuit of overall improved health and wellness. The year of COVID shook up the game and made us dig deeper for solutions and possibilities as we move into a new world with more remote working, learning, and enhanced safety protocols. The need for an efficient, safe, and “well” home has never been more apparent. We have broadened our thinking and our search for solutions by tapping into additional resources and innovations.

The 2020 pause in design and construction allowed us to engage with new voices and explore ways to contribute beyond immediate project needs. We took two varied approaches to explore healthy homes opportunities further, and both yielded interesting, marketable results. The top three ideas that rose to the surface in our discovery and exploration are:

  1. Invest in healthy materials and sustainable options to impact wellness
  2. Design flexible living spaces to adapt to changing needs of the home
  3. Include accessible design to allow residents to age in place

We reached these conclusions through two concentrated efforts. The first approach was an internal design charrette, including our entire Wellogy team. The project addressed the need to incorporate the elements of Healthy Urbanism™ into a small town in Central Florida. The goal was to improve the services in the area so residents could have everything they needed within a 15- minute walking distance of their home, thus creating Healthy Urbanism™. The community was also in need of housing that would serve the current population and support new growth.

Our firm divided into teams and met regularly for six weeks as we researched, designed, and modified our concepts. We analyzed trends and challenges and brainstormed the ideal collection of homes for this area based on market needs. The final designs included:

We focused on creating pocket neighborhoods and providing options like age-in-place and ADU’s to co-locate support. The designs are flexible, inviting, and incorporated into the community, allowing residents to easily engage with needs, services, and entertainment and not rely heavily on transportation.

The second approach involved engaging with 25 University of Cincinnati Visual Innovation Studio (VIS) students. Working with the University of Cincinnati and the VIS class led by Associate Professor Aaron Bradley, we created a project overview for the design exercise. The VIS project challenged the group of students to explore two primary questions. First, how can healthy home environments improve their inhabitants’ social, health, and economic, mental well-being? And second, how does the design of a healthy home fit into and enhance the Healthy Urbanism™ formula? We provided architects and planners a team to support the students by responding to their questions and providing additional information.

According to Bradley, “This is a new program we created in response to COVID and the fact that students wouldn’t be able to have traditional co-op experiences, and many companies had innovation challenges that would benefit from students’ perspectives.” Bradley is an Associate Professor of Creative, Culture, and Social Impact Initiatives in UC’s Division of Experience-Based Learning and Career Education.

The 25 students presented the final presentation deck via a Zoom meeting to display their findings to Wellogy associates. Teams were encouraged to incorporate digital prototypes, images of physical prototypes, data visualizations, and interactive elements when possible and relevant (3D/SLA printed models, mockups, etc.). Compiling research from articles, interviews, and existing research data, they determined four key features of a Healthy Home- adaptable space, water quality/ access, maximized lighting, and air environment.

The students created consumer profiles and explored the option of designing spaces where people could age in place. “Something that I found very intriguing was the thought of aging with the home. I have moved around a lot so thinking about living somewhere long term never has crossed my mind. I do think it is important to think about though and how the home can adapt with the homeowner to be accessible/user friendly,” according to Chloe Pi, University of Cincinnati Industrial Design student, Class of 2024.

According to Gary Gray, Wellogy architect, and Healthy Homes innovator, the students were thoughtful and thorough in their designs. They even took the extra step to code graphics to provide a visual aide showing before to after images of age in place transformation for critical rooms in a home. Gray is a long-time designer and developer of homes throughout the United States and has worked for several large home builders.
Click the photo to see the before and after

Both exploration exercises yielded similar expectations for future healthy homes with flexibility, age in place, and homes incorporated into a walkable community. Wellogy continues to evolve their healthy home design concepts and create solutions for designing communities focused on wellness. Our challenge now is to expand the consumer’s knowledge and benefit of the healthy home, influence the market away from urban sprawl and look to the future full of innovative ideas to improve our quality of life.

Exploring Healthy Homes Ideas with the University of Cincinnati VIS Class

by Jennifer M. Bobbitt

The Visual Innovation Studio (VIS) project challenged a group of 25 University of Cincinnati students to explore two primary questions. First, how can a healthy home environment improve its inhabitants’ social, health, and economic, mental well-being? And second, how does the design of a healthy home fit into and enhance the Healthy Urbanism™ formula? Wellogy (formerly Davis Wince, Ltd.) provided architects and planners to support the students by responding to their questions and providing additional information.

“I learned a lot about the design process through this project. Aaron Bradley, our faculty advisor, taught us to ‘fall in love with the problem’ before we even started forming solutions. By doing so, we could fully understand what needed to be addressed and had something to fall back on when revising the project,” according to Natalie Kunes, University of Cincinnati Urban Planning student.

University of Cincinnati Associate Professor Aaron Bradley teaches the popular innovation class and is well known to his students for challenging their thinking and pushing them outside their comfort zone of ideas.

“I’m constantly surprised at the effort it takes to get them (students) to push past the ‘safe’ answers at early stages of an innovation project. I think that by the time they get to university, they’ve had years and years of very linear approaches to education and a lot of classroom situations where there’s ultimately only one “right” answer that the test or the teacher has set up. Creative problem solving implies that there are multiple ‘right’ ways to solve a problem. Over the years, I’ve come to expect this, so I build in a lot of early work in this area at the start of every new project with students. As they get more comfortable with the idea that it’s OK (in fact, it’s encouraged) to push past boundaries and propose bold ideas, the creative process always gets a lot more fun, and the results are more impactful,” Bradley said.

The students were divided into teams, each consisting of multiple disciplines, and started their research and exploration. Each week, Wellogy staff interacted with the students numerous times to help ensure the project moved forward and involved complete information and mentorship.

“This virtual class setting, although not conventional, was the perfect think tank for possibilities. The past year has taught us to listen, learn and be open to new ideas and opportunities,” according to Kathy Kelly, Wellogy architect and Director of Strategy. Kelly was actively involved with the students every week as they researched and looked for ideas.

Chloe Pi, University of Cincinnati Industrial Design student, Class of 2024, said the research and design phase also sparked new ideas for her.

“I learned a lot about the research phase within the design process. I learned that topics unrelated to the prompt you have been given can be helpful and that it does not have to directly relate to the subject matter. It can be something as simple as understanding more about human behavior,” Pi said.

At the end of the five weeks, the students compiled their research findings and insights and packaged their graphics into a well-orchestrated presentation. Wellogy architect Gary Gray was impressed with the level of detail to which the students explored the healthy home idea.

“From materials like copper handles to reduce the transmission of bacteria and adjustable height bathroom counters and cooktops, the students addressed the adaptations for a healthier home and aging in place options,” Gray said.


Wellogy architects Gray and Kelly agreed; they learned a lot from their experience as mentors and found the information the students created very inspiring and innovative. The designs have sparked new conversations and ideas both in architecture and for aspiring students.

“There are things that have influenced what I envision my future home(s) to be like. I can incorporate small things into a current residence or bigger things like the kind of materials I use. But on a broader scale, how can I be more conscious of how my home functions with surrounding homes and communities,” Kunes said.

Bradley noted that this class was different due to COVID-19 related restrictions put on students this semester.

“Bringing us a challenge that has the potential for real impact was paramount. All too often students are given a very constrained problem set to work with, and the output is very tactical (redline a set of plans, design a logo, etc.). It was great to work on a challenge that asks larger questions of human behaviors and human futures,” according to Bradley.

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