Creating effective study environments is essential to supporting student success, especially as academic libraries face increased demand for quiet, focused spaces. At the Redacted Library, staff found that furniture selection, layout, and sightlines influenced noise and disruptive behavior more reliably than policy enforcement alone. This session reframes space planning as a behavioral intervention by illustrating how intentional design can shape conduct amid rapid enrollment growth and post pandemic shifts in student behavior. Drawing on five years of behavioral data, QR based noise heat maps, and iterative redesigns, we highlight clear furniture and behavior correlations: lounge seating, large group tables, and movable soft chairs tend to attract social clustering, while anchored single seating, study carrels, structured layouts, and improved visibility significantly reduce disruptions. We introduce a practical Behavior by Design Toolkit to help libraries assess spaces, map behavior patterns, and select furnishings that reinforce desired norms. Attendees will gain evidence-based design principles, heat mapping templates, and guidance for furniture decision making. These insights extend beyond quiet zones. The same behavioral patterns inform the design of group study rooms, collaboration hubs, and learning commons, demonstrating how intentional space planning creates environments that naturally support their intended uses.
