A full run down of the planned improvements to learning spaces

At the April meeting of the Learning Spaces Working Group we (Space Management) shared a list of all the planned work we know of that will be taking place within our learning spaces portfolio before the next academic year. It was a surprise to most of the group - both in scale but also how items end up on the list.  We think that’s quite fair - how do rooms or items within rooms get selected to be on a refurbishment list?

The answer is: in lots of ways.

1. Lifecycle works - we know that certain items within a room will only last so long - and we usually swap those out just in the nick of time, so the room does not suffer any downtime and the experience is not impacted. The obvious candidates here are the technology pieces. They normally last about an eight-year cycle, with regular maintenance during that time.
2. Your feedback - through a number of channels. It could be to Timetabling directly, via your department who will make a representation to the Facilities Manager, or via the University Helpdesk (ext 5555). 
3. The Facilities Managers - using their local condition surveys and knowledge.

We’re going to be transparent about the investment in these spaces moving forward - and the working group will have their say on priorities or input from the membership they represent. These things take time to change, so for the current year we’re working on the list as presented - but with the caveat that the design and product selection will be approved via the working group, and aim to be consistent with the consultation and feedback on the Spring Lane Building.

Room	Furniture	Decor	Flooring	AV
ATB/056	🎫	🎫		🎫
ATB/057	🎫	🎫		🎫
Biology - various		🎫
B/B/102	🎫
B/B/103	🎫
B/M/023 (survey pending)				🎫
B/M/049 (survey pending)				🎫
B/M/052 (survey pending)				🎫
BS/005				🎫
C/A/102 (Easter 2016)		🎫	🎫	🎫
C/B/102	🎫	🎫	🎫	🎫
D/L/007	🎫
D/L/028 (Hendrix Hall)				New Column Boards
D/L/036		🎫
D/N/016	🎫
D/056 (Summer term 2016)*	🎫	🎫	🎫	🎫
D/N/104	🎫
D/N/159	🎫	🎫
DS/006	🎫
Room	Furniture	Decor	Flooring	AV
DS/008	🎫			🎫
DS/009	🎫			🎫
DS/010	🎫			🎫
E/056	🎫	🎫	🎫	🎫
E/118	🎫	🎫	🎫	🎫
E/119	🎫	🎫	🎫	🎫
E/120	🎫	🎫	🎫	🎫
E/107	🎫	🎫	🎫	🎫
James G/N	🎫
LMB	🎫
P/L/001				🎫
P/L/002				🎫
RCH/248 & 250				🎫
V/C/123				🎫
V/N/044 (Summer term 2016)*	🎫	🎫	🎫	🎫
V/N/045		🎫		New Column Boards
V/N/119		🎫
V/N/120		🎫
V/N/123		🎫
V/N/123a		🎫
V/N/139	🎫	🎫
V/X/230 (Easter 2016)	🎫	🎫	🎫	🎫
V/X/231 (Easter 2016)	🎫	🎫	🎫	🎫
W/N/218	🎫	🎫	🎫	🎫

That’s a long list, and we’ll be undertaking this room when the rooms are at their quietest - mainly after the exam period is over.

The working group have commissioned a direct consultation, for each space, with the users who have been taught or teaching in those spaces this year. That’s most likely one of you (especially if you’re reading this) - your response will be really valuable!

All the best,

Matt.

Derwent D/056 and Vanbrugh V/044 refurbishment updates

Better late than never!

That’s my way of apologising for the rather late blog post to say that the transformation work has commenced for both of these spaces - with a target completion date in June 2016! A quick shout out to our project manager, Marc Newsome, who is our internal star seeing these two spaces through to completion.

SDL Construction have been busy stripping the spaces back to their outer shell and starting work to implement the new designs. You can see the start of D/056’s new raised seating area below, and we will have more photos to whet your appetite soon.

Photo from 18 April

We have opted for a ‘Design and Build’ contract - utilising the outline designs that were consulted on through both the Learning Spaces Roadshows and the Learning Spaces Working Group. The aim is to deliver back:

• V/044 as a high-quality boardroom seminar, with full blackout facility, a large central projection screen (3 metres), new lighting, heating, power, carpets, glazed windows (and curtains/blinds), tables, chairs and entry doors. Our Interior Design company working on the project, Brazenose, are as passionate as us to deliver a high-quality learning environment.
• D/056 as a high quality small collaborative lecture room. This is our first truly collaborative room, with bench seating and collaboration tables for all members (with integrated power), new lighting, technology (large central projection and large boards), heating, power, carpet, glazed windows (and blinds), entry doors and new ventilation. For those of you who remember D/056 - we believe this space will be truly transformed and unrecognisable when we’re finished!

Watch this space!

Matt.

The Learning Spaces Working Group takes on a life of its own

Our group came into existence as the working group for the Spring Lane Building, but we’ve since had input on early stages of the Piazza Building development (due for completion in 2017 on Heslington East) and other individual room refurbishments where the opportunity (and funding) has been available.

The Pro Vice-Chancellor for Teaching, Learning and Students, Professor John Robinson, recommended (and the working group agreed) it would be valuable to have a group that continued into the future and led and co-ordinator our learning spaces improvement works, especially as the York Pedagogy implementation moves forward and our learning and teaching styles may alter as a result.

The York campus will undergo significant redevelopment over the next decade and as such the opportunity to modernise our learning spaces. Every year money is spent on renewing the technology, decor, furniture and other elements of learning spaces - and this group will now act as the vehicle to consult, agree and lead this programme of works.

Recommended for inclusion as a sub group of University Teaching Committee:

Scope

“A learning space should be able to motivate learners and promote learning as an activity, support collaborative as well as formal practice, provide a personalised and inclusive environment, and be flexible in the face of changing needs.” - Jisc Designing Spaces for Effective Learning 2006

At the University of York, ‘learning spaces’ includes formal teaching space, dedicated learning space, social learning spaces, IT classrooms and other space whose primary purpose is designated as learning.

Terms of Reference

1. To monitor new developments in learning space within the HE sector and reflect on these in the University of York learning space design principles and recommended standards
2. To understand the needs of teachers and learners in relation to learning spaces to enable and support delivery of and innovation in pedagogy and learning 
3. To inform the campus development plan, ensuring that there is a consistent and coherent approach to learning spaces across the University
4. To develop and maintain a set of learning spaces design principles and recommended standards for use in new or refurbished learning space across the University
5. To work with colleagues across the University, advocating and advising on best practice in learning space design
6. To contribute to the management of learning space across the institution in collaboration with the Head of Space Management and other relevant colleagues
7. To contribute to the annual programme of learning space development in an advisory capacity, including the application of the rolling teaching equipment fund
8. To act as the working group for the Spring Lane and Piazza Building projects
9. To report to University Teaching Committee on development of learning space across the campus

With the Membership

Head of Space Management (Chair)

Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Teaching, Learning and Students

Deputy Director, Information Services

President, Graduate Students Association (GSA)

Academic Officer, University of York Students’ Union (YUSU)

Six members of academic staff (two members from each Faculty), representing the three faculties, as appointed by University Teaching Committee:

currently:

Cathy Dantec (Languages and Linguistic Science)

Simon Sweeney (Management)

Jan Hardman (Education)

Jeanne Nuechterlein (History of Art)

Roddy Vann (Physics)

Vacant (Sciences)

In attendance as required:

Learning Spaces Designer and Project Manager (DECS)

Facilities Manager (DECS)

Project Manager(s) (DECS)

Business Manager (DECS)

Interior Design Consultants

Head of Academic Support Office

Secretary: Space Administrator (DECS)

We welcome your regular feedback and, as we move forward, commit to regularly consulting, via different channels, so that you may directly influence our future learning space design too.

Matt Burton

Chair, Learning Spaces Working Group