Why are so many writing centers/academic support centers designed like restaurants? The purposes of the spaces are very different, and so are the needs of the spaces' users. Square tables seem to be the standard, but why?
What happens if the square becomes round and high top tables are offered as an alternative to the standard height tables? Round tables offer uninhibited collaboration because corners are a barrier to closeness. And a high top table allows for a student's "quick question" to be answered by a circulating tutor. In a multi-function academic support setting, tutors are snagged all the time by students needing help. High-top tables are ideal for fostering independence in learning; they allow for tutors to comfortably circulate without always having lengthy appointments.
This gallery includes before and after photos of the main floor of the DSC-UCF Writing Center as we made the transition.
