Designing for All Minds: Neurodivergent-Inclusive Spaces in Practice
Across our library, school, and campus projects, Edge Architecture is seeing a clear shift: the most successful spaces aren’t just functional — they’re attuned to the sensory and social needs of everyone who uses them.
Our recent work at Fernwood Library is a case in point. This wasn’t about checking a “quiet room” box. It was about rethinking the sensory environment from the perspective of its most important users — patrons with a wide range of sensory processing needs.
Designing for Diverse Users and Learners
In our design process, we think beyond traditional user categories. We consider:
Sensory seekers, who benefit from varied textures, bold visual cues, and active zones.
Sensory avoiders, who need soft lighting, low noise, and spaces to decompress.
Flexible users, who shift between both modes throughout the day.
At Fernwood, this understanding translated into specific architectural moves:
RGB lighting allows personalized control of color and brightness.
Soft materials — carpet, rugs, and tactile surfaces — help ground and soothe.
Minimized visual clutter through reduced corners and simplified spatial layout.
Zoned areas, from tech access to quiet reading nooks, create choice and autonomy.
As architect Christina Fluman explains:
“It starts with research, but it has to go beyond that. We’re applying what we learn in real-world settings — like at RIT's PRISM center and the new Fernwood Library Branch in Rochester — and layering in our own experience. It’s not about one sensory room. It’s about creating choices throughout the space — places to gather, retreat, and discover.”
Learning from “Autism Pleasantville”
In The Loudest Girl in the World podcast, journalist Lauren Ober imagines her ideal city — “Autism Pleasantville.” She later visits Mesa, Arizona, one of the first cities pursuing autism-friendly certification. There, she finds that good intentions often fall short when not backed by design thinking: a “sensory escape space” turns out to be just a spare bathroom.
The takeaway? Neurodivergent-inclusive design has to begin early. It’s not a retrofit — it’s a mindset, and one that needs to include neurodivergent voices from the start.
How Edge Is Evolving the Approach
From Fernwood to master planning work across the state, we’re weaving sensory-conscious design into our broader library strategies. That includes:
Spatial zoning to separate high-stimulus areas (e.g., children’s play zones, tech labs) from quieter spaces (e.g., reading rooms, study areas).
Stimulation break areas that invite rather than isolate.
Thoughtful lighting and acoustics, including coordination with consultants to avoid noisy mechanicals over quiet zones.
Flexible furniture and finishes that can shift with user needs — supporting independence without sacrificing comfort.
We know the demand is growing. According to our 2024 research, 6% of libraries cited a need for sensory-friendly and neurodivergent-inclusive spaces — a number that’s likely to rise as libraries expand their roles as community anchors.
Good Design Responds. Great Design Anticipates.
At Edge, we believe inclusive environments aren’t just better for neurodivergent users — they’re better for everyone. More intuitive. More empowering. More human.
Let’s design spaces that work — for now, and for what’s next.
Connect with our team to start planning.