Learning spaces
MIT’s lecture halls, seminar rooms, and other learning spaces range in size from 16 to 566 seats. There are 157 classrooms in all, mostly spread across buildings to the east of Massachusetts Avenue. And they are in various stages of modernity. Although progress has been made toward a 1988 goal to have all 157 updated by the year 2000, that has not yet happened.
The reasons for doing so are not restricted to the need for multimedia capabilities, either, although that’s part of it. (All 157 classrooms already have wireless Internet access.) Rather, the most compelling needs have more to do with —
- better lighting;
- improved ventilation;
- comfortable (and movable) chairs; and
- an LCD projector in every room so that student clubs can also use the rooms for evening meetings.
As part of its commitment to enhancing the undergraduate educational commons, MIT has established these priorities for improving its learning spaces:
- Complete Project 2000 (update all 157 classrooms);
- create classroom spaces where design matches purpose;
- ensure that space is not an impediment to educational innovation; and
- ease the pressure on student group demand for meeting spaces “after hours.”
To discuss a special gift to MIT’s learning spaces, please contact Mary Callahan, registrar, at callahan@mit.edu or 617.258.6432.
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