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University campuses are architecturally diverse by nature. Accommodating a wide range of functions from traditional lecture halls to congested student accommodations, these buildings must be malleable in order to respond to lifestyle trends and changes in technology. While each structure has a distinct identity and purpose, their ability to fit cohesively within the physical and social parameters of the campus is of paramount importance. Students value playfulness and quirky spaces, but they also need predictability in the layout and circulation of interior programs to ensure worry-free and efficient movement between classes. The multi-pronged duties of these facilities are so crucial to post-secondary institutions that global architecture and consulting practice Woods Bagot has dedicated some of their brightest minds to understanding and enhancing the relationship between good design and a positive campus experience. As the Global Education Sector Leader, Sarah Ball oversees a diverse competition-rich sector characterized by universities eager to attract the world's best talent.
Woods Bagot's approach to architecture, master planning, urban design, interior design, and consulting relies on a unique sector-by-sector network of experts to ensure optimal results for the client and the end user. From transportation and residential projects to convention centres and hotels, each of the ten global sectors is appointed a leader to guide the team towards a multi-faceted solution to industry issues. This methodology, which puts the user experience at the centre of every design, blends global and local perspectives. The resulting 'glocal' relationship emphasizes an understanding of the local context within a highly globalized environment. It's all part of Woods Bagot's modus operandi that places "people architecture" at the forefront of its work. And while each sector comes with its own distinguishable set of challenges, educational design and architecture is perhaps the most susceptible to influence from other sectors. With residences, retail, interior design, and transportation intrinsically linked to the campus landscape, the sectors begin to blur, as outside expertise is collected to inform individual projects.
We talked to Sarah Ball recently about how the education sector is evolving and the role urban design and architecture can play in creating memorable academic experiences. The enlightening discussion underscored the importance of the configuration and composition of campus structures in being able to provide comfortable and prosperous learning environments.
"We're at a turning point for education," said Ball. "What we're seeing is a move away from the traditional institutional feel of a corridor with classrooms on either side." Instead, Ball explained that technology has become a big enabler in crafting the way people use interior spaces, which in turn has sparked a shift in the types of spaces provided on campus. The formulaic lecture hall is becoming increasingly obsolete, while more collaborative learning spaces take their place. With the proliferation of online courses, and students being able to access information anywhere and anytime, "the university campus experience is more important now than ever before." Students are drawn to physical university grounds so they can immerse themselves in an academic atmosphere, where they can fully participate in the learning process within a social setting that embraces inclusion. That sense of community is something online courses cannot replicate.
The inherent functional diversity of campuses also lends itself to less formulaic building designs, at least compared to office and residential projects, which are generally consistent in terms of their interior configurations. Ball explains that campus building projects need to get the form and function right, especially as universities acknowledge the role design can play in communicating the strategic vision of the school. "We're beginning to see a lot of universities creating buildings and using them to brand their campus," said Ball. These buildings utilize robust materials, make room for technology, and typically permit a plentiful supply of natural light. Maximizing ventilation and views, glass-walled structures foster a connection between the interior and exterior, allowing people walking by to peer into the space. "Universities want education to be on display," said Ball. "They want people to be excited about what used to be behind closed walls."
Creating a 24-7 vibrant "sticky campus" is key to a well-rounded university experience. The Australian school calendar typically only spans half the year, but universities have begun to look at their grounds as a 365-day campus. Even as online courses become a more popular method of education, students can be encouraged to congregate on campus to solve problems and study together. This notion of a "flipped classroom" ensures that students still have the physical infrastructure to learn and collaborate. The archetypal university experience of a professor lecturing from a PowerPoint presentation is quickly becoming an obsolete form of teaching. In modern-day classrooms, multiple screens service the students, who gather to watch a lecture from a teacher who often isn't even in the building — they're streaming from a computer.
The Business School at the University of New South Wales focuses on peer-to-peer education within a technology-enabled environment through the provision of formal and informal learning spaces. The 'PLACE' (Peer Learning And Creative Exchange) implements the flipped classroom concept by emphasizing teamwork, group learning, and idea sharing in a highly socialized setting. MUSE (Macquarie University Spatial Experience) in Sydney shows how design ultimately shapes these learning experiences. This revitalization of a vacant Brutalist library building utilizes raw and recycled materials to frame and provide furnishings for the transformable space, which encourages collaboration through the layout and positioning of its modules. Both of these examples serve as models for a new adaptable teaching and learning typology.
The way these spaces are provided naturally varies by campus. In urban areas, the social infrastructure that facilitates serendipitous experiences is generally quite abundant, whereas suburban campuses seek to create the urban atmosphere and its associated infrastructure within a more regional setting. Rural and remote campuses need to play up the "unique experience angle," selling to international students a special experience exclusive to the university and the country. Ball explains that formulating a distinct and original course offering is one of the most common and successful ways of doing this.
The goal of creating an environment conducive to learning and the user experience demands a reimaginging of student accommodations, which aren't traditionally known for their landmark architecture. In moving away from cookie-cutter living and common areas, universities are extending their presence to off-campus sites, where students from different schools can live together. Woods Bagot's Buranda student accommodation development in Brisbane, the largest of its kind in the city, will serve three major universities with 1,578 rooms, 14 ground-level commercial spaces, and an expansive student common area. Ball explains that creating special spaces for activities ranging from barbecuing to gaming — while offering a good spectrum of study spaces — helps accomplish and sustain a "home away from home" ambiance. In Brisbane, where international education is the biggest export market, it makes good economic sense to invest in diversified spaces that cater to a wide variety of lifestyles.
As advances in technology continue to alter the way people interact with one another and their spatial surroundings, architecture must react accordingly. The aesthetics of the campus strongly influence a student's sense of belonging. An aspiring push towards placemaking and a strong building concept, customized and relevant to the university and its programs, is driving Woods Bagot to create campus environments fit for today's world and adaptable to tomorrow's. With urban design and architecture providing universities with their physical faces, creating a positive and memorable first impression through the form and function of each building is key to attracting and retaining talented pupils. As Ball explains, "Architecture should provide a strong foundation to the development of the campus." And without a strong foundation to build on, the aspirations of schools around the world, whose resilience depends on the provision of an exciting and engaging student experience, will never be fulfilled.
You can find out more about the urban developments currently underway and proposed in Australia by paying a visit to our Forum, where you can also get involved in the discussion.
