Iowa Valley Community College Learning Studios and Automotive Tech Lab

This learning studio addition addresses IVCCD’s need for additional classrooms with an emphasis on flexibility and collaboration in the learning environment. It was an extension of a decade-long conversion of a former grocery store into classroom space.

Each learning studio within the building has the ability to transform into countless configurations to allow maximum flexibility in the classroom. Flexibility was achieved through a grid of floor electrical boxes, multidirectional projectors, 360-degree writing surfaces and mobile furniture. Lighting can be customized through multiple programmable scenes and all instructor equipment can be remotely operated. The comprehensive grouping of these flexible components allows instructors to effectively configure each classroom to best suit their individual curriculum and teaching methods whether they are lecture based, group seminar based and everything in between.

The learning studios, along with faculty offices, form the perimeter of the building creating a central collaborative environment. It includes private, semi-private, and informal meeting spaces where students and faculty can study, relax and work together on group projects. The evident transparency of the central space increases the probability of spontaneous collaborations as well as increases the exposure of the college’s programs and teaching methods.

Location:

Grinnell, Iowa

Project

12,500 SF Addition

Design Team:

Eric Vermeer