Although teamwork is essential in design, interior design education can be competitive and individualistic. The role of design educators is to structure projects seeking to promote inclusive group dynamics and democratic participation among team members. Navigating the challenges of group work should not rest solely on the shoulders of students.…

At Santa Clara University (SCU), Vice Provost for Information Services and CIO Ron Danielson led the design and construction of the campus's 194,251-square-foot Harrington Learning Commons, Sobrato Technology Center, and Orradre Library, a single building opened in March 2008. Danielson and his team were responsible for describing design goals,…

The design and implementation of technology can prove a particularly daunting challenge for campus planners and project designers. Specialization is required for the selection and implementation of technologies including the familiar network, telecommunications, and data-processing functions, and also the more esoteric emerging technology labs and…

A gymnasium that is now outgrown has been redesigned to be a campus center for students, faculty, and visitors. (Author/MLF)

An education based in human ecology can greatly benefit interior designers as they work to understand and improve the human condition. Design programs housed in colleges focusing on human ecology can improve the interior design profession by taking advantage of their home base and emphasizing the human ecological framework in the design curricula.…

Provides examples on ways to make locker room maintenance easier and their use more student-friendly. Improvements include use of indoor-outdoor carpeting with numerous floor drains to cut mildew buildup, adequate ventilation to reduce musty smells, better hot water management, ceramic tiles to reduce water-damage repair and painting needs, and…

Presents advice for avoiding problems when renovating wetrooms to include either bathrooms or laundry rooms. Tips include timely use of inspectors and incorporating delivery penalties into contracts. (GR)

Describes the design of the Fisher Science And Academic Center at Simon's Rock College (Massachusetts), that allows the buildings to seamlessly blend in with their rustic surroundings. Photos and diagrams detailing design features are provided. (GR)

In the renovation of Lewisohn Hall in the School of General Studies at Columbia University, the lowered ceilings, installed in the 1962 renovation, were removed, thereby re-creating the rectangular spaces that reveal the perimeters of the building's volume. (Author/MLF)

Highlights the questions to ask when designing or retrofitting the lighting needs for a multipurpose campus facility. Issues addressed include the tasks the facility is expected to accommodate, the benefits of available lighting sources, the facility's layout and dimensions, aesthetics and functionality, and budgetary considerations. (GR)

Restructuring of Virginia Tech's college of home economics into a college of human resources established a department of housing, interior design, and resource management and created an opportunity for collaboration with industry. The seven-part model includes developing a clear perspective of goals and common values, identifying benefits and…

Provides examples of ways to entice more students to live on campus through better residence hall design. Amenities that include landscaping, private baths, lounge areas, and fitness facilities are suggested as are designing apartments that have a more homelike quality to them and providing affordable and attractive off-campus housing. (GR)

Discusses how to design athletic and recreation buildings that satisfy diverse student needs and enhances the facility's repeated use. Five building designs and basic floorplans are examined. (GR)

Presents three college residence-hall projects that reveal the diversity in planning and design ideas available for successfully meeting student needs. Discusses use of unique interior designs and locations, multi-service features, and the use of prefabricated materials to cut building costs are discussed. (GR)

Summarizes elements contributing to the evolution of the present Sigmund Samuel Library, University of Toronto, Canada, including reasons for renovation, committee deliberations, purchasing of equipment, and problems encountered during the actual renovation and moving of materials. Two references are cited. (EJS)