Campus Cognition - Examining the Effects of University Architecture on the Brain (transcription)
Part I – Campus Conundrum
In 2014 there was over $12billion spent in the construction of University buildings in the US. Nearly $9.5billion of that were new construction and the other $2.5billion for additions and renovations. That is millions of square feet of Academic space, libraries, athletic venues and complexes, and residences… adding 1,000s of new beds around the country.
The planning and design for these multitude of buildings came from years of experience, countless hours of effort, and numerous skilled people. The goal of this sizeable endeavor was, in some way, to improve the campus experience. To enhance the environment of each of those particular Universities.
Did it work? Is the University “better” as a result of the new spaces?
It seems to me that our job is to make campus better and improve the space to best suit the functions, needs, and users. We meet with administrators, students, faculty, and staff to develop an understanding of the needs of the user and how best to organize the spce to fit those needs. We develop diagrams, models, renderings to further this conversation between designer and client. We look at precedence and case studies of past buildings. The influence of the past aids in improving the future design. These and other processes are implemented in order to ensure campus will be improved (at least ideally)
Designs are finalized and projects are built.
How does the building measure up? There maybe some follow up to compare the program to the completed product. A commissioning agent will probably some through a few times to check the sustainability features of the design. University administrators and facilities professionals will review a lessons learned of the project. Maybe even implementing industry developed metrics to calculate maintenance efforts. Sometimes we can even get Post Occupancy Evaluations of the buildings to get a sense of the user experience. However, amongst all these efforts to judge the building to how it improved campus they more or less fall short. They rely on subjective ratings, opinions, and observations. The mission of the University is to create and disseminate knowledge...
So, more of this....
and less of this...
Therefore, the metric for University Architecture should be rooted in the improvement of learning the space creates.
My presentation is about the relationship between Architecture & Learning. And why it is important to Design with the Brain in Mind. Over the next few blog posts I’ll outline, ask, and hopefully answer the following:
Where Does Learning Happen?
Does Space Impact Learning?
How does Space Affect the Brain?
How Can the Brain-Space Connection Improve Learning on Campus?