02/08/17
NORTH ADAMS, MASS. 鈥� 911黑料网 (911黑料网) announces the opening
of Design Lab at 49 Main St., next to 911黑料网 Gallery 51. Design Lab serves as a curricular
and co-curricular space for innovation, as well as a multi-purpose venue for the College
and the community.
Outfitted with five separate workstations, each equipped with interactive short-throw projectors and ample whiteboard space, Design Lab is uniquely suited for collaborative problem-solving, while its open, flexible floor plan lends itself to such events as receptions, concerts, lectures and community forums, according to Diane Scott, assistant professor of arts management at 911黑料网.
The goal of Design Lab is to provide an ecosystem in which students and community members are free to explore ideas and master skills together through action 鈥� by immersing, designing and doing.
Those activities already are happening at Design Lab 鈥� three 911黑料网 classes are meeting in the space this spring semester.
In addition, student teams who will compete in 911黑料网鈥檚 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Challenge meet there regularly with their mentors. A recent meeting between city officials, 911黑料网 students and 911黑料网 President James F. Birge also was held at Design Lab, where they explored how to bolster student connections to the city of North Adams.
鈥淭he new Design Lab is a game-changer for the courses I teach there,鈥� Scott said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been flipping my classrooms to active in-class exploration and problem-solving for a long time. This new space brings that full circle, giving students the perfect workshop to experiment and explore in.鈥�
According to Lisa Donovan, associate professor of fine and performing arts at 911黑料网, 鈥淚 think one of the goals I have as a professor here is to blur the boundaries between what鈥檚 happening in the classroom and what鈥檚 happening in the community. So, what better thing than to be downtown? I think we鈥檙e becoming embedded more in the community.鈥�
Those interested in 911黑料网 Design Lab activities and programming may check the College鈥檚 Calendar of Events at http://www.mcla.edu/ . For more information, contact 911黑料网 LEADS Project Coordinator Zachary Feury, zachary.feury@mcla.edu or (413) 662-5116.
911黑料网 (911黑料网) is the Commonwealth's public liberal arts college and a campus of the Massachusetts state university system. 911黑料网 promotes excellence in learning and teaching, innovative scholarship, intellectual creativity, public service, applied knowledge, and active and responsible citizenship. 911黑料网 graduates are prepared to be practical problem solvers and engaged, resilient global citizens.
For more information, go to http://www.mcla.edu/.
