2017-03-06

William Kenney_Future Campus_Abstract

A college performs and is perceived by the campus appearance, walkability, green spaces, and the type of buildings they provide and the classrooms inside. These are all vital aspects that contribute to the effectiveness and atmosphere of a university. With the world viewing college with higher value and importance than ever before, there is a need to hone in and focus on what ways we can enhance the experience of the student and prepare them for a job and career after they earn their degree. Colleges all around the world all appear the same aesthetically and function similarly. Is this the best and most effective form or should this be changed for the future?

Companies such as Google and Facebook are recreating this college “campus” atmosphere for the work setting. These technology companies are always looking towards the future, and the way they are developing their new offices is replicating the way a college performs. If this is effective, then we may want to take note that colleges have the right idea. Even housing projects seem to be taking this idea of a campus to enhance the way people live their life. The college campus appears to be the model of the future even though it has been around for centuries.

The question of how the campus of the future will perform doesn’t lay within the campus itself or the buildings or classrooms. It derives from how the students collaborate with each other and how schools within the college integrate with one another. There is a tendency for students to stay in the one building they belong to and interact with the students in their own college. Students do venture out, but the action of learning about different subjects isn’t always necessarily applied. By learning about other topics that vary from one’s major, students can expand their viewpoints and apply it to their own projects.

Even though majors may appear different, most are connected. Subjects such as architecture and psychology share certain qualities and can be studied through the lens of the other, even though the main focus differs. When you only focus on one field, you may miss ideas that you could otherwise find. For example, the principles of psychology can be applied when designing a building to maximize its effectiveness and functionality. It is important for students to collaborate and learn about each other’s majors and apply these ideas to our own. We don’t need to change the structure of the campus, but the attitude and interactions of students. This can be done by holding classes of various majors in the same buildings, as well as adding requirements or holding events to motivate students to look outside of their major and expand their knowledge.

No comments: