Group items tagged

A USA-based hub of information and research about learning space design. Much of the focus is on school design, but there's still useful information here.

Re-imagining the design of classrooms as rich learning spaces

A blog focusing on school design, but some useful insights for all sectors

Dr. Robert Beichner is an award-winning professor of physics at North Carolina State University and is receiving the Prize for his work at the post-secondary level. He has changed how students learn in the science classroom not only on his home campus, but at the more than 100 institutions of higher education that have adopted SCALE-UP, an approach that uses digital technology combined with innovative teaching approaches centered on hands-on activities and roundtable discussions.

This is a useful blog which discusses library design from a user (human) perspective, rather than just bricks and mortar. The focus is on improving the user experience, through working in partnership with them and marketing services effectively.

"Designing Libraries The centre for library design and innovation: a resource for library planning and design, a database of library buildings and a marketplace for services."

Redesigning the College Library Building, 2014 Edition This 220+ page report looks closely at the capital spending plans and building renovation/construction policies of academic libraries, predominantly in the USA and Canada. The study covers capital spending and space allocation plans with highly detailed data on recent library spending and future plans for the construction or renovation of library cafes, seating space, lighting, atriums, classroom space, information commons and other technology-oriented spaces, group study space, storage space, collection space, rooftop space, offices, meeting spaces and auditoriums, entrances and exits, restrooms, gardens and other outdoor spaces, artwork, windows, space and facilities for special collections, performance space, space intended for library applications for specific academic departments and other forms of library space and special features. In addition, the report looks at other forms of capital spending such as plans for library furniture, workstations,information technology and more. The study also presents extensive data on sources of funding for renovations and new construction as well as data on how renovations have been received by the target audience. Redesigning the College Library Building, 2014 Edition also examines special purpose investments in energy saving technology, enhancements to natural light and soundproofing, among others. Data is broken out for public and private colleges, by size and type of college, and by college tuition level.

iTEC is about designing the future classroom. The project, which involves 15 Ministries of Education from across Europe, brings together teachers, policymakers, pedagogical experts - representatives from each stage of the educational processes - to introduce innovative teaching practices.

"In an increasingly digital world, libraries are surplus to requirements, right? According to the Voices for the Library campaign, more than 10 per cent of the UK's public libraries are currently at risk of closure by their local authority, and hundreds have been shut down in the past two years alone. For universities, however, both modern and historic libraries are at the heart of campus life. A new book, Reflections: Libraries (published this month by ROADS Publishing), has collected 44 images of the most iconic library buildings, and it includes some inspiring photographs from some of the world's best known higher education institutions."

Image gallery of award winning library interiors from the International Interior Design Association (IIDA)

A resource developed by Cambridge University, which aims to answer the questions: What is inclusive design? Why do it? How to get started?

"'American Libraries' celebrates this year's new library designs, featuring stunning architecture, teen tech areas and flexible, collaborative spaces."

This looks a promising resource, which starts from the premise that library design should start with customers.