As higher education has been transformed by technology and new pedagogies, campus life has become more important to students seeking a sense of place. Today’s students demand a flexible environment that allows them to work, study, play, sleep, and eat in a variety of locations both virtually and physically free from the constraints of traditional singular use spaces.
 

Nevertheless, there is still a profound desire for a defined sense of place that fosters identity and community. Mackenzie understands the importance of connecting the virtual world of social media and remote communication with the physical world of face-to-face interaction and engagement.
 

Contemporary learning environments now extend far beyond the classroom and are defined by access, which is often remote, rather than by location. Multimedia instructional hubs are driven by new learning technologies and dynamically connect a diverse and often far-flung student body. These trends parallel the evolution of contemporary workplace design, where the focus has shifted from fixed personal space to flexibility, collaboration, mobility, and choice.

The design of learning spaces has evolved with new approaches to teaching and a paradigm shift in the understanding of the very nature of learning. The traditional lecture-based classroom is no longer the norm as education has evolved into team-based, peer, and collaborative learning. Mackenzie designs flexible academic learning spaces that adapt to these new learning approaches. As educational strategy shifts further from the textbook and traditional classroom, there are dynamic opportunities for learn-by-doing incubator-based spaces that meet diverse learners’ needs. These environments can support entrepreneurial and interdisciplinary activities that encourage innovation and discovery. These new perspectives have given rise to informal learning spaces where students, outside of classroom boundaries, can share ideas and engage in lively discourse. Often these spaces have replaced the traditional “hallway as circulation” with dynamic interior and exterior pedestrian streetscapes that promote casual interaction and chance social exchanges.
 

The library has always been the symbolic heart of a campus, a repository of recorded knowledge, and a quiet place dedicated to the personal pursuit of knowledge. Today’s library has evolved into a multifaceted learning resource center and social hub that enables users to explore, experiment, and create in a collaborative environment. More than an access point to information or a physical collection of books, the new library is a dynamic and engaging place that fuses technology, shared knowledge, communication, and social media.

While technology is profoundly reshaping the modern library, the shift from printed materials to digital media is not ubiquitous, and there is still a desire and need to house traditional books. Mackenzie recognizes the importance of designing flexible spaces that accommodate the needs of today while allowing for the potential changes the future may bring.

Residential life is a foundational part of the university experience, with an intimate impact on each student. Residence halls and dormitories are no longer simply places to sleep: they have become integral to the campus fabric as intentional places to interact, create, and innovate. Until recently, the most important thing college students wanted in on-campus housing was privacy—private bedrooms and private baths. In the race to attract students, colleges and universities did their best to create living spaces that tried to fulfill that wish.

Today, colleges and universities are looking for student housing designs that foster greater opportunities for students to interact with each other, creating a stronger sense of community. Many students have embraced the value of sacrificing private personal space for the benefits of added shared space. Larger and more vibrant common areas with access to technology have enabled designers to blend academics with living spaces. This evolving design approach supports holistic student success and can provide a key attraction for potential enrollees.