Celebrating Students’ Commitment to a Better World
By Sara Howell, AIA, NCARB, and Fiona Booth, AIA, NCIDQ, LEED AP
Social justice, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) are top of mind for campus planners around the world, and architects and designers who work in the education sector. For the team at Washington State University (WSU) Tri-Cities, JEDI issues played a key role in the design of the new Collaboration Hall. ZGF worked with students, faculty, staff and many other stakeholders to design a 40,000 SF space that celebrates students’ commitment to a better world and demonstrates the university’s commitment to making that world a reality.
Centrally located between Seattle, Portland, Spokane and Boise, WSU Tri-Cities has largely been a commuter school catering to a student body with an average age of 26 and representing a diverse demographic: 42% are first generation college students and more than 42% identify as minorities, many coming from Latinx backgrounds. In addition, the campus is expanding from 2,000 students to 5,000 and Collaboration Hall is one of several new developments setting the table for that growth.
These considerations impacted WSU’s key project drivers to expose students to a diversity of subjects and to create a sense of belonging and community on campus. Hence our shared commitment to designing an academic destination for everyone, with the resulting building representing a space where every square foot is laser focused on a single purpose: graduating civic-minded citizens who can work across disciplines to solve the world’s most pressing problems.
The modern architecture of Collaboration Hall plays off of existing buildings to serve as a gateway to the rest of campus.
Bringing together students of all backgrounds and disciplines in one building can foster a sense of belonging and community on campus.
ZGF used design workshops with student representatives from every department to get their input early in the process and ensure that the promise of interdisciplinary learning is extended to all students.
In one exercise, students were asked to trace the paths they take every day to classes and other destinations on campus. We started to see patterns around areas that are social hubs, pinch points and locations that students avoid altogether, giving us insights into how to make Collaboration Hall as welcoming and inviting as possible.
In another exercise, students were given building blocks labeled with the various program elements that would go in the building, such as labs, classrooms and breakout spaces. They put the pieces together as they thought the building should be organized. Another exercise utilized flashcards to present design options—this or that—to narrow in on students’ preferences.
Students also brainstormed what they wanted to see in the building, like larger classrooms. Until then, the small campus and intimate class sizes had been a selling point for WSU Tri-Cities. The unintended consequence was that students couldn’t always get into their first-choice classes due to limited space. Along with larger classrooms, WSU Tri-Cities committed to investing in faculty development so educators could scale their small-classroom strategies for larger groups.
During the planning process, project stakeholders toured several other campuses in the Pacific Northwest and were inspired by elements of other ZGF projects including study nooks, collaboration spaces and ample access to daylight.
The wood stair ZGF designed for The Spark: Academic Innovation Hub at WSU’s Pullman, Wash. campus was a particularly popular element that was adapted into WSU Tri-Cities’ program.
Informal spaces in Collaboration Hall include a lively collaboration zone and central grandstand stair.
The design team worked with ArtsWA, the Washington State Arts Commission, to bring a sculpture by artist Paul Vexler to hang in this space.
Shedding Siloes for Collaborative Learning
One goal for Collaboration Hall is to engage undergraduate students in science and research earlier on in their education, starting freshman and sophomore years. Research is essential to WSU’s land grant mission and it’s an economic driver for the region and state.
Another goal is to promote diversity in the sciences. Both interdisciplinary study and undergraduate research are proven strategies for exposing non-traditional students to STEM fields, specifically women and students of color.
The final design for Collaboration Hall features open and collaborative learning spaces balanced with a mix of small group niches, individual study spaces and breakout rooms for more concentrated learning. The diversity of spaces not only maximizes the ability to collaborate and learn anywhere in the building, it acknowledges and supports different learning styles and personalities for more effective interdisciplinary study.
Ultimately, leveraging student input resulted in a building where every square foot serves a purpose and offers opportunities for growth: nurturing the next generation of leaders who will make the world a better place.
Extra wide corridors lined with study nooks and niches are designed to encourage spillover and collaboration outside of classrooms. The extra width also allows daylight filter through the building.
Lab and classroom spaces are designed to be flexible to accommodate all types of courses and learning styles.
Washington State University, The SPARK: Academic Innovation Hub
