Designing Learning Spaces for Higher Education

Canadian academia is preparing for a full return to the campus in the upcoming winter semester. As faculty and students begin to re-enter classrooms and lecture halls, it’s more important than ever to ensure learning spaces are designed to help them flourish.

Studies indicate that adjusting some core design elements of a classroom or lecture hall can increase student learning outcomes by a significant margin. One report reveals that the interior design of a learning space can impact a student’s progress over the course of one year by 25 percent.

Traditionally, the interiors of universities and college campuses were intended to meet basic functional requirements. But thanks to the pandemic, digital disruption, and innovative pedagogies, the traditional learning space is changing.

Whether it’s a lecture hall, learning lab, or traditional classroom, interior design is vital in ensuring academic spaces deliver valuable higher education. Here are some interior design tips for creating an effective learning space for the 21st-century student.

Use modularity to upend the traditional higher education experience

The shift from passive to active learning is disrupting the learning experience at higher education institutions globally. Learners are no longer merely absorbers of information — they lead discussions, exchange insights, and problem-solve collaboratively.

Active learning demands spaces that promote student choice, which the typical classroom design does not allow for. Instructors experience the daily challenges of stationary tables and chairs that limit movement around the classroom.

The standard classroom must be able to adapt to the many forms learning can take. In one moment, a room may need to mimic a debate hall, a testing area, or a conference room. Flexible layouts and furniture that is easily movable and configurable, such as swivel chairs and connectable tables, can streamline these frequent transitions.

Pay attention to lighting and acoustics in your learning space

An effective learning environment will make good use of two key senses: sight and sound.

A student’s ability to retain information suffers when an instructor’s voice can’t reach the back of the room or drowns in an orchestra of clicking keyboards. Acoustics should therefore incorporate a combination of absorption and diffusion to achieve the right balance of sound.

Soft finishes that absorb sounds, such as carpeting and fabric-wrapped panels, reduce reverberation, while reflective panels can evenly distribute soundwaves and improve the quality of vocal frequencies.

Lighting also has a tremendous effect on our ability to learn, and as with many interior spaces, natural light is key. According to one study, students in learning spaces with more natural light scored as much as 25 percent higher on standardized tests than students with less access to natural light.

However, natural light is not always freely available, so designers can mimic it with blue light fixtures. Blue light, which has a shorter wavelength and produces more energy than yellow light, keeps students more alert, boosts cognitive function, and helps maintain the body’s natural wake and sleep cycle. Compact fluorescent light and full-spectrum LEDs can be effective sources of blue light when sunlight is inconvenient.

Engage students by using colour in interior design

It’s never hard to find one or two students using class time for a bit of shut-eye, and in a sea of beiges and greys, it’s hard to blame them. Today, modern academic institutions are focusing on colour to enhance the learning experience through clever aesthetic choices.

While colour should stimulate students, it shouldn’t distract them, so it’s imperative to balance neutrals and bolder accent colours. When selecting an accent colour, consider the learning environment you’re trying to create.

Warmer tones, such as oranges and reds, create a learning space that promotes social interaction and collaboration, while cooler tones, such as blues and greens, promote concentration and information absorption. It’s therefore common to see academic institutions use the full spectrum of colours across different learning spaces, depending on the function of each room.

Future-proof your learning space with technology

The reality is that modern learners aren’t scribbling down notes with a pen and paper anymore. Emerging technologies have permanently changed the old paradigm of higher education, and academic interior designers cannot neglect this fact.

Ensuring that technology effectively interfaces with the space means incorporating more than a few wall sockets. Projector tools, desks outfitted with charging ports, videoconferencing capabilities, and audio enhancements are helping create a learning experience that allows students to feel connected with their education.

Technology will continue to play an increasingly vital role in the design and use of higher education spaces. As new tools make their way into the classroom, the design of learning spaces must evolve with these developments.

Embrace accessibility in your learning space’s interior design

Academic institutions should design learning spaces with every student in mind, which means going beyond standard accessibility requirements to ensure everyone has the opportunity to engage, regardless of their abilities.

Every learner should have the opportunity to sit wherever works for them, not just the front or back row. Whether a classroom uses amphitheatre-style seating or a flat-floor layout, each seat should have a direct line of sight to the front of the room. Important items, including desks, markerboards, and handrails, should also always be within reach.

Accessibility centres around unique individuals and how they work within a space, so the interior design of an inclusive learning environment should empower learners with the ability to utilize a room to its full potential.

Design interiors for the future of learning

The COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on learning styles, technology usage, and student needs is dictating a new future for academic interior design. As higher education navigates this new future, interior designers have the opportunity to rethink and enhance learning experiences for the benefit of students and instructors.

Looking to modernize your learning space? Contact 34F Design for your next academic interior design project.