Facilities Planning
PKAL 2002 Summer Institute - Bridge Session
June 1 - 2, 2002

Bridge Session Abstract

At the PKAL 2002 Summer Institute, representatives of eighteen firms within the community of architects, lab designers, and campus planners (see below) will be working together during the Bridge session (June 1 - 2). The theme running through their presentations is how to make modest, quick, meaningful renovations that serve immediate needs to bring new pedagogies, technologies and enthusiasm in the learning and teaching within the undergraduate STEM environment. Individually and collectively, they will present interesting solutions, that do not require a new building, to problems relating to space that many colleges and universities are now facing.

We would like, from the PKAL community, ideas/photos/floor plans of renovations that address one or more of the following reasons for renovations. (They will be posted on the PKAL web site.)

Reasons for renovations

• spaces are not welcoming; they do not present a 21st century face of science
• there has been a significant increase in numbers of people using the building: majors, non-majors, faculty and staff from within the sciences and from across the campus
• new faculty are arriving with greater interest in interdisciplinary programs
• the proportion of faculty/students engaged in research is significantly larger than when the building was designed
• a major research grant has been received and there is insufficient space to support those involved
• the original design did not include space for small group collaborations and/or for student projects and research.
• the building cannot support the new pedagogies faculty are exploring, e.g., to eliminate the lecture and have lecture-less labs; to provide inquiry-based learning for all students
• building systems are at the end of their useful life cycle
• the building has been poorly maintained
• information technologies and digital resources are common tools in learning and teaching
• more equipment, some of it environmentally sensitive) needs to be accommodated than anticipated in the original design.

Approaches to renovations

• imagineering the future, trying out new ideas in spaces where it really doesn't matter
• making a series of steps toward something permanent, realizing new spaces will never come
• taking an audit of current spaces, adding group work areas, common gathering spaces, etc.
• getting students involved in thinking through options to 'green' the building, to make it more environmentally sensitive.

Bridge Session Presenters

James Baird, Holabird & Root
Thomas C. Celli, CelliFlynnBrennan
James Cox, SRG Partnerships
Gwen K. Chouinard, Harley Ellis - Ohio
Carol Duke, Zimmer Gunsel Frasca Partnership (DC)
Kip Ellis, Einhorn Yaffee Prescott (MA)
Jeff Ellison, Ellison-Auxier Architects, Inc.
Elizabeth S. Ericson, Shepley Bulfinch Richardson and Abbott
Couper Gardiner, BHDP Architecture
Richard Green, The Stubbins Associates, Inc.
Louis Hartman, Harley Ellis - Michigan
Richard Heinz, Research Facilities Design
Elissa Kellett, Einhorn, Yaffee, Prescott (DC)
Michael C. Lauber, Ellenzweig Associates, Inc.
Katherine Leonidas, BWBR Architects
Art Lidsky, Dober, Lidsky, Craig and Associates, Inc.
Jon Romig, Payette Associates
Jeff Schantz, Lord, Aeck & Sargent Architects
Howard Wertheimer, Lord, Aeck & Sargent Architects
Timothy F. Winstead, The Freelon Group