Springfield College to Host Groundbreaking Ceremony for Learning Commons on Friday, Oct. 14
Springfield College invites all faculty, staff, and students to a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Learning Commons on Friday, Oct. 14, starting at noon. The ceremony will take place inside the fence at Babson Library across from Naismith Green, and will feature Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper, Board of Trustees Chair Greg Toczydlowski, and Student Trustee Troy Ward.
Springfield College is converting 45-year-old Babson Library into a modern Learning Commons that will serve as the center for academic life on campus. Rather than just a warehouse of information, the library-turned-learning-commons will become a model to support multiple modes of learning.
The Learning Commons will include numerous features that serve today’s student. The 6,000-square-foot Reading Room situated on the first floor will allow 24-hour access for our students, who cite peak study hours as 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. A technology support station, located near the entrance, will offer personalized assistance to students and faculty.
Located on the second floor, The Hub is where technology and teaching intersect. Features of The Hub include:
- Two flexible Media Work Stations designed for informative, evaluative, and generative group work sessions.
- Approximately 1,200-square-feet of adaptable space, known as The Forum, that can easily be rearranged as needed to host classes, presentations, or brainstorming sessions.
- The Research Consultation Area, which will spark increased interactions and facilitate collaboration, knowledge sharing, and idea generation among users.
The new Academic Success Center will encompass 5,300-square-feet on the third floor of the Learning Commons. This central location in a high-traffic area will avail more students to the wide array of academic services available, and allow the staff to expand their outreach to a more diverse group of students.
