Jackson Community College

Narratives

Educator Narrative

The College’s vision for William Atkinson Hall was to provide college library and information technology center truly designed for 21st century students.

Today’s traditional-aged college students, ages 18-22, are part of a unique group. They have been called the “millennial generation” and bring high expectations for their college facilities. Having grown up with technology, they are the most “wired” generation yet, as video cassette recorders, compact discs, computers, Internet, satellite TV, cell phones, DVDs and more are second nature to them. They come to college expecting technology to be part of their learning experience. Atkinson Hall’s high-tech environment was designed with just these students in mind.

Construction was completed on Atkinson Hall in the summer of 2007 in time for fall semester classes. It houses the college library and much more. There is a large, open computer lab with 50 computers for student use, as well as 30 laptop computers that may be checked out and used anywhere in the building, which has wireless Internet access throughout. Breakout study rooms with flat panel display TV/computer screens are available.

College students may log on to these computers and check course assignments or e-mail their professor. They may research information for classes online or check research databases for academic journals and other materials needed for writing papers, preparing presentations and more. Or, they may pull up the library catalog and look for a book they need.

Atkinson Hall not only houses the library and computer labs, but there are 11 classrooms or “learning studios,” six with laptop computers, four with desktop computers and one with Macintosh computers. Learning studios have the advanced “Wall Talker” dry erase wallpaper on almost every wall. Furniture itself is portable, so students can work in groups, in a large circle, or even pull the furniture out of the way and work on the floor while writing on the walls! A high-tech conference room with six large screen TVs allows for interactive classes with off-site locations. The building is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified, a “green” facility using energy-efficient fixtures and renewable resources.

Students have responded positively to the new facilities. The computer lab is frequently full, with students stopping in between classes to do work. Breakout study rooms are so popular they now have to be reserved with the circulation desk. Learning studios allow for flexible learning environments that keep students engaged, a change from the typical chairs-facing-front lecture format. Collaboration and team work, skills necessary to any segment of today’s workforce, are enhanced through the building’s design with multiple breakout rooms and flexible learning studios.

Ultimately, as with any academic building on the campus, our goal was to help students learn, and JCC feels Atkinson Hall is meeting that end.

What exemplary ideas do the designs contain that enhance learning?

The design successfully creates a strong individual presence for the ITC without disrupting the fabric of the campus. Playing off of the courtyards and site lines of existing buildings, the structure features a continuous hem that begins as a retaining wall in the entry court and folds up to a canopy wrapping around the building, ultimately becoming the roof of the two-story information commons. The commons area is below grade, but offers light by extending into an outdoor garden court.

The designers considered how different spaces should act, rather than how they should look and as such, create an open concept of informational and academic space generating a unique plan and creating multiple zones for individual, small group and team-based learning. The classrooms or ‘learning labs’ provide complete flexibility through integration of data/media, power, lighting and furniture systems; thus, allowing the environment to evolve as instruction, technology and students change. The open structure with perimeter security allows complete access and movement of all types of media and information throughout the learning environment.

What innovations in the planning, programming and design process supported the realization of those exemplary ideas?

The ‘Collaboratorium’, which overlooks the two-story information commons, is the centerpiece of the building. This featured room is a fully interactive classroom and conferencing space with uniquely designed furniture, large format monitors, video capture with broadcast capability and data capture/retrieval. This space is central to experimentation and innovation to support the College’s mission of assisting learners in identifying and reaching their educational goals.

The building is a strong new symbol for the College. The material selection has taken cues from many of the original buildings. These materials - brick, glass and wood panels - have been expressed in a contemporary and refreshing manner resulting in a handsome addition to the College community.