The Not socommon Commons

Beth AveryUniversity of North Texas

Issues big and small Planning for what’s in the future

New Learning Styles New Technologies

Keeping the big picture in sight while you deal with the trivial and not so trivial details

Talking with your Architect/Designer

be careful what you wish for..............

You might be surprised!

We want a traditional building to fit in with our campus

We got….

Lots of glass which “reflects the traditional campus while housing the

future” in other words glass and steel versus bricks and mortar.

Be careful what you ask for

We asked for an

“Open Access Lab”for

1. general academic computing needs of our students 2. space for tutors to meet with students.

What we got…

What we had in mind

What we got…

We need it finished for when classes start

The First Day of Classes

One month later…

What we asked for…Open and flexible

What we got

What we asked for

Colorful to perk-up the dull brick walls Based on the school colors – crimson

and slate

Preparing for “THE” discussion

Learn their language What’s the size of the area you have

to work with? Be specific about why you want

something. What’s the purpose of the area? What kinds of furniture/technology do you

need to meet the purpose?

Preparing for “THE” discussion..

Know how much money you have and have an idea of how much it will buy

Consider alternatives – space reductions, different uses of space, etc.

Tour other buildings similar to what you want or talk to others who have done similar projects.

What happens when…

Be prepared for problems – Have alternatives ready for patron use during construction.

Be prepared to answer the questions – we got this because….

THE INFOCOMMONS Utopia –

“no place”

Siren Song – “luring us on to crash on the rocks”

Goethe’s Faust – to easily obtain all of human knowledge

(the Internet?). God saves Faust because of his endless seeking.

May we endlessly seek to meet the needs of our users.