Next Gen Learning Spaces

Out with Lecture Halls, In With Collaborative Learning Spaces

Project-based learning, also known as next-generation learning, is all about breaking down barriers so students can solve problems collaboratively. This is not just true of the learning process, but the space where it takes place. Physically, it’s all about having a flexible space that inspires interaction – often marked by communal furniture, careful soundproofing, and open floor plans in place of tiered lecture halls.

View All Ideas

One of the challenges for PFCU’s new branch in Center City was figuring the best way to make use of a very long and narrow existing space while accommodating various programs. The big design-move was to have a ceiling and floor band extend from the exterior signage all the way to the back teller area. In order for the team, owner, and contractor to best understand the concept and the space, we utilized both rendering and virtual reality presentations ahead of construction. Now under construction, we can see how making use of technological advances in early stages of design can help us translate a concept to reality.

Logistics: Making sure the project can be built

For the SEPTA station renovation under City Hall, confirming that the new structural components can be brought to the site is essential. That means building a full size plywood mock-up of the largest steel box beam (which is 62 feet long, 5 feet high, and 4 ½ feet wide), loading it onto a flatcar in the train yard, and bringing it through the track tunnel to site. Since the box beam was able to travel to the site without getting stuck in the tunnel, we now know that all of the components can be brought in by train.

3D Printers: A visualization Aid for Stakeholders

Using 3D printers to study the design for renovations helps show the configuration, space and detail of a project in progress. Our team developed the concepts for improved circulation within a station by connecting the platforms and mezzanines. We made a digital CAD model for a small portion of the key interface and were able to adjust the CAD model for our 3D printer. The size and scale were printed to show actual steps and railings, and the final product gave stakeholders an idea of what the project would look like in the end before construction even started.

Office-Inspired Campuses

Office Tech That “Works” for Campuses A core function of universities is to prepare students for the workforce. And yet, higher ed and office design have traditionally existed on opposite ends of the spectrum. The modern campus seeks to bridge the gap with learning commons that simulate the working world. Tech-enabled conference rooms, for instance, are on the rise, featuring camera-enabled TVs and screens that allow you to transfer your work simply from a screen to a wall projection.