THE POND
Collaborative Learning Strategy Report: The Physical Sciences Building
This document is intended to provide a phased programming outline for the first floor of the Physical Sciences Building (PSB) at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. The programming recommendations aim to support collaborative and interdisciplinary learning in higher education through adaptable and accessible community spaces. Over the last several years, work has become increasingly collaborative and multidisciplinary in all aspects of education. This is a challenge for universities as the design and planning of existing academic buildings are based on an older learning model that emphasized passive, lecture-based learning. However, students today are oriented towards an educational model that focuses on active learning and engaged teamwork in addition to traditional lecture courses. The buildings within Cornell’s campus are no different and necessitates change as higher education continues to evolve. Our task is to reimagine how PSB can better support these new ways of learning through both short and long-term recommendations.
timeline: feb - march 2021
site: physical sciences building, cornell university, ithaca, ny
partners: claire choi, matthew canabarro
programs: google suite, microsoft powerpoint, miro, procreate, adobe illustrator, adobe photoshop
prompt to help Cornell reimagine its campus to better support new ways of learning based on the following four components:
An analysis and a proposal of key features, both spatial and non-spatial, of effective collaborative learning and research spaces on higher education campus;
Reimagine the chosen space on Cornell’s campus and propose changes for it to more effectively support collaboration, the deliverable should include concepts as well as a proposal of spatial and furniture change.
Create a set of space management and operation recommendations, as well as necessary technology, to support the outcome of the proposed modification and design solution.
Develop a set of suggestions to guide the creation of new buildings and new spaces on campus and/or the renovation of current spaces for supporting new ways of learning.