CAE Spring 2002: The Classroom


	The Classroom: De-evolution, Real or Imagined Committee on Architecture for Education Spring 2002 Conference C O N F E R E N C E P R O C E E D I N G S by Sara Malone

		This conference, sponsored by the AIA Committee on Architecture for Education, was held in Cambridge, MA, April 11-13, 2002. Conference Sessions Overview Lifelong Learning—What Do We Expect? The Campus as Classroom: Issues and Opportunities Sustaining and Promoting an Educational Facilities Design Keynote: Lifelong Learning on a 21st-Century Campus Learning from Living Technology: The Unifier in a Multidiscipline Educational Environment Equity and Excellence-Making an Urban School System Work Sustainability-Massachusetts Sustainable Schools Pilot Program Planning at MIT Tours at MIT Dreyfus Chemistry Building Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics Distance Learning at MIT TEAL Room (Technology Enabled Active Learning) Albert and Barrie Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center Simmons Hall Undergraduate Dormitory Ray and Maria Stata Center PIA Gateway Newsletter
Planning at MIT Vikki Sirianni, Chief Facilities Officer, MIT "At best, MIT is controlled chaos," said Vikki Sirianni. "It absolutely relishes being between controlled chaos and being over the edge." MIT is all about ideas, she added. Construction is a 20th-century process, an anathema to how quickly MIT wants stuff done, noted Sirianni. She discussed how some basic planning principles are being redone by an institution looking to the future. The path to the future lies in academic priorities, learning environment, residential campus life, faculty and student infrastructure, and physical infrastructure. There is no focus on the past-MIT is a 150-year-old institution, but you'd never know it by looking at it. In addition, she said, there is a disconnect between the lecture hall and learning, and MIT has acknowledged that life and learning are integrated. The underlying planning principal is to find what supports innovation, experimentation, rigorous thought. This includes openness, connectivity, and ease of operation. There are a number of campus renewal projects now underway: Lobby 7: this entailed a major restoration to a Beaux Arts space. They opened the glass skylight, found a pattern on the floor, cleaned and restored stone, painted metal and wood. The end result really affected people positively, demonstrating the power of the physical environment Baker House, designed by Alvar Aalto, is a wave-shaped dormitory that required functional upgrades The Guggenheim Lab was updated by Cambridge Seven Architects MIT has a specified student life agenda intended to bring out the best in the introverted yet entrepreneurial people who are drawn to the school. The dorms, both grad and undergrad, are integral to this mission. Other key new projects are the Ray and Maria Stata Center, by Frank Gehry; the Dreyfus Chemistry Building, originally by I.M. Pei and now undergoing an exceedingly complex renovation; and the Media Extension Lab, which is grappling with issues of light and connectivity. "These changes and updates will enable excellence in academic life and accomplishments in the 21st century," Sirianni observed. "It will reverberate beyond our boundaries to drive education, economics, security, and quality of life." How do these translate to the physical environment? Support and encourage interaction Support rigorousness of thought Don't exist other than to serve Are transformable, easily adaptable Technology intensive Support the introverted nature of the populace but at the same time create a strong sense of community What's different now: Can be experimental Can relate more to the human side of the equation Need to represent the emerging needs of faculty and students Still shouldn't be precious, but can have character Help us define community and its affect on life and learning Makes us feel good For more information visit: http://web.mit.edu/evolving Copyright 2002 The American Institute of Architects. All rights reserved.