Cutting-edge campus design
14.10.2010
Aalto University aims to be a world-class university in 2020. A vibrant research and study environment plays a central role in achieving this target. Aalto University makes the decision about the campus structure in the end of year 2010. We asked from Andrew Harrison, Director of Learning and Research at DEGW, about the elements of current learning environment and campus design. Andrew Harrison has led a number international research and learning-related research and consulting projects, exploring the impacts of technology and pedagogy change on school and higher education institution design.
What are the learning environments trends?
- Approaches to learning in educational settings are changing. Traditional teacher-centred models are being replaced with more student-centred approaches. This shift changes the roles of the higher and further education institutions from a place of instruction to "a place to produce learning". The shift in learning paradigm has direct implications for the University Estate. Space becomes less specialized, boundaries blur, and operating hours extend toward 24–7. The shift towards student centred teaching models emphasizes to the benefits of a range of learning styles and individual preferences: the learning spaces need to be able to support a wide range of learning modalities and approaches, says Harrison.
- Universities are thinking hard about the total student experience. The 'spaces in between' the formal teaching spaces are just as important in terms of where learning actually takes place. In many institutions space types are increasingly being designed primarily around patterns of human interaction. Space bring people together; it can encourage exploration, collaboration, and discussion.
You have been involved in many campus design-projects. Can you describe the common elements of the future campuses?
- We encourage institutions to evaluate their existing estates using what we call the 'three Es': efficiency, effectiveness and expression.
Efficiency: getting the most from the real estate and driving down occupancy costs. But this increase in efficiency should not be at the expenses of the quality and effectiveness of the learning and research.
Effectiveness: using space in ways that improve the quality of the work or learning being done there.
Expression: using the spaces to communicate messages, celebrate successes, express ideas and values to both the inhabitants of the building and those who visit and interact with it in any way.
- Many institutions are seeking to minimize the amount of specialised learning space and to instead create highly adaptable teaching and learning spaces that can be shared across faculties and subject areas. The goal is to create flexible spaces that can support a wide range of learning and teaching approaches.
- Physical changes can act as a catalyst for academic, pedagogic and cultural change within the institution.
What are the most important elements in future campus design?
- The most important thing is to plan for change. Regardless of how your university is structured now this will change. The physical estate needs to be able to respond to the changes. Secondly, an university is an institution where the students and staff are all members rather than merely employees or citizens.The buildings and spaces need to communicate and promote this sense of ownership by the users.
- The shared common realm of the university does not stop at the front doors of the buildings. Instead it extends to the semi-enclosed spaces such as gardens, courts, quads, halls, arcades, lounges, dining halls cafes, bars and lounges all of which are open to the staff and students. This is unique to education facilities and its design is pivotal to the realisation of a successful learning landscape.
- There should be spaces for interaction and meeting as part of the learning space of the University.The goal must surely be to create a place that celebrates knowledge, ideas and values through every square metre of landscape, Harrison sums up.
An open lecture "Cutting-edge campus design" by Andrew Harrison, October 19, at 14.00-15.30, Dipoli, Hall 4.
