This Open Plan Case Study originates from the 2007 JISC-commissioned study into the Design and Management of Technology-Rich Learning and Teaching Spaces in Further and Higher Education in the UK by Les Watson, Hugh Anderson (Principal, haa design) and Katherine Strachan (Architect, haa design).
Case Study tags: learning spaces, open plan, harrogate college, yorkshire and humberside, refurbishment, further education
Space: Library and IT Suite
Opened: 1960s, refurbished 2000
Respondent: Arthur Sargeant
Role: Campus Library Manager/Senior Learning Advisor
Harrogate College was formed some years ago from the Harrogate Further Education College and Art College and 8 years ago became a College of Leeds Metropolitan University. During 2007/08 it is planned that the College will 'demerge' from Leeds Metropolitan and seek merger with an FE partner. Currently the College provides courses for students aged from 14 to 80.
The open-plan facility consists of two large rooms on the second floor of a 1960s building arranged at right angles to one another. The 2004 refurbishment aimed to create informality. In the 'library space' there are learning (study) spaces, book stock, and a small number of computers. In the IT suite there are 64 computers arranged in clusters with 80 seats. The IT suite is used both for teaching and drop in.
Issues reported in the questionnaire return were heating, ventilation, noise and behaviour.
The heating and ventilating systems are the original ones installed in the 1960's building and were reported to be inadequate for the current use of the space - it was originally office space with a much lower occupancy rate. The spaces are too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. Many of the windows are bolted closed and those that can be opened only open a small way and therefore there is poor airflow through the building. The heating and ventilation system was originally controlled from Leeds but now there is some local control. The IT centre has less of a problem as extensive air conditioning has been installed.
The library space is a single rectangular open space that has a welcoming feel. When refurbished, on a small budget in 2000, care was taken to provide both quality and comfort. During the refurbishment design thought was given to:
type of shelving - coloured with glass ends making it an item of furniture
types of furniture - for example large study tables were chosen that can be split into 2 to accommodate different group sizes and tub chairs were provided in informal spaces
arrangement - angled shelving has been used to provide niches for study and privacy
Although this is a small space and its look and feel are largely pre-determined by the large amounts of glass, with little expenditure a good look and feel has been achieved. An issue with this space is that, due to its size, it is not possible to have both conversational and silent spaces within it and therefore a separate small silent study room has been provided.
The building also makes use of a number of photographs showing students studying and student artwork that subtly suggests the type of use expected in the building.
The IT suite is used for both teaching and 'drop in'. The 64 computers are arranged in 6 bays and teaching does take place in adjacent bays at the same time. However the space is not ideally suited to didactic teaching and favours a workshop approach. It is felt that some teaching staff like to use the space for teaching because of the informality that it brings to a lesson (for example, because the space can also be used for 'drop in' a student 'dropping in' may (inadvertently) start a conversation with a student that is participating in a taught session). The space encourages not just informal learning but also informal teaching.
