This room is located in the library. It's right next to the Writing Center and adjacent to the Academic Support Center. It's literally in the middle of the Learning Commons. As you can see from this photo, the room was drab and it wasn't designed to make the most of the space. I had the opportunity to re-envision this area.
The dusty verticals came down, the ceiling tiles and old fluorescent lights followed, and the flooring was removed. The A/C was also revamped to keep the space from being either too hot or too cold, as it had always been in the past. Comfortable ambient temperature is important in a learning environment; uncomfortable students have a hard time staying focused.
A calming, ocean-inspired blue helped to make this new "fishbowl" welcoming and attractive for the space's users. Dimmable and eco-friendly LED lighting was added. The dimming function is important when a projection screen is the technological centerpiece of the room. Dimming the lights ensures the presentation can be seen. And, as for the old verticals, I wanted to leave them down. Being able to see in and out of the space makes it feel more inviting. Besides, now there's less to clean!
The new nesting-style desks and Acton chairs enabled a few more computer workstations to be added to the room since capacity was usually met rather easily. The new configuration with the wide aisle offers greater access for those in wheelchairs. Previously, all of the workstations were along the left side.
This is one of the single workstations along the right side of the room. There is room enough in between each row to allow students in wheelchairs to have comfortable access.
These Acton chairs, while petite, are comfortable and offer great back support. The colors for pull from the colors in the carpet and work well with the surrounding space.
These Focus chairs are rather popular. For students who prefer a larger chair than the Acton or come in late and don't want to disturb others in the class, these tablet arm chairs are a great option. While I usually don't opt for chairs with built-in tablets, for a classroom setting with limited room, they're a viable solution. I ordered three chairs total: two right-handed and one left-handed. As for the fabric, it's not only fun and works perfectly with the colors of the space, but the pattern helps to disguise any spills or stains that might happen.
This letter made my day.
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DSC Library Fishbowl
This gallery shows the transformation of a multi-discipline computer-enabled classroom.
