LTI have been working with LSE Estates and AV to improve teaching and learning spaces at LSE, our most recent project has been to revamp some spaces over 6 floors in Clement House.

Students have made it clear that they don’t have enough spaces around the campus for independent study, for collaborative work, to power their devices or to simply sit between classes (especially where they don’t have to pay for food and drink, or share the space with the public). Our aim was to design spaces in Clement House that are flexible and fulfil a variety of functions; allow students to own and shape the space, to provide and support social interactions and engagement (conversations and community), to offer personal spaces with no distractions (retreat) and to provide resources (power, natural light, work spaces). We want these spaces to represent what it means to study at the LSE. These spaces are an opportunity to bring society and London into the School environment. To inspire curiosity and creativity in students. To offer students space to develop the trans-disciplinary skills of collaboration and communications. To enhance the community feel of LSE informal learning spaces.

Each floor has its own world city theme, (as IR is the home department in the building) with corresponding artwork and technology (including Apple iMac, Mac mini, Smart Kapp board, collaborative tables) and furniture to enable different types of learning activities.

Floor 2 - Rio de Janeiro
Creative, maker space, that is flexible with emphasis on writing. Contains one whiteboard and one interactive smart board to share ideas direct from the board to your devices
clm-floor-2-by-irina-zakharova
Floor 3 - New York
Cafe style break space, wooden bench for individual work & laptop use, an Apple iMac is available for use
clm-floor-3-by-irina-zakharova
Floor 4 - London
Conversation space, informal meeting layout to encourage discussion
clm-floor-4-by-irina-zakharova
Floor 5 - Sydney
Collaborative space - standing height seating and writing with white board
clm-floor-5-by-irina-zakharova
Floor 6 - Tokyo
Connectivity and team working - technology to facilitate sharing, can plug devices into screen and a Mac Mini available for use
clm-floor-6-by-irina-zakharova
Floor 7 - Cape Town
Comfortable quiet reading quiet space, with comfy chairs and plants for a more homely feel
clm-floor-7-by-irina-zakharova

We also commissioned some original digital artwork to be displayed on screens outside of classrooms on two of the floors. Entitled ‘What are we Thinking?’ the animation by local artist Isabel Garrett interprets the brief of bringing London and the world back into the spaces at LSE. You can see the video (with sound) online

clm-animation-what-are-we-thinking-by-isabel-garrett-photo-by-irina-zakharova
In a few weeks we will be adding all of the first year IR318 videos to the screens (with subtitles) in order to celebrate the students work from the innovative project delivered by IR with the support of LTI.

In addition to feedback from students we will be conducting observations of how people use the spaces.  Let us know what you think of the spaces, all completed surveys will be entered into a draw to win Amazon vouchers.

 

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