ON CAMPUS
campusreview.com.au
Getting sticky with it
Swanston Library, part of RMIT’s New Academic Street project. Photo: Peter Bennetts
Digital revolution driving
new-look campuses.
By Carey Lyon
• There is a diversity of spaces, allowing students to choose to
study individually, peer-to-peer or in groups.
• Spaces reflect students’ year-round needs — for gatherings
during orientation periods at the start of semester, or individual
study sessions at the end of semester.
• Outdoor areas are abundant across most building levels — to
promote student and staff wellbeing.
FROM CLASSROOM TO COMMUNITY
T
hanks to the rise of online education, tertiary institutions are
finding it harder to entice students back on campus. Rather
than bemoaning the trend, some universities are deploying
designers to transform their campuses into thriving, dynamic
communities that satisfy students’ academic and social needs.
Dubbed a ‘sticky campus’, this type of environment is
characterised by student-centric design. The approach creates an
atmosphere where undergraduates, resident academics and visiting
scholars all wish to engage onsite for longer periods of time.
Put simply, sticky campus design promotes a powerful sense
of belonging, courtesy of spaces that feel secure, inviting and
comfortable. Flexibility is key to the approach. Facilities are
designed to promote peer-to-peer learning in spaces that can be
modified or redefined by students themselves.
A sticky campus is one where:
• The campus is an inviting and safe place throughout the day
and night.
• The design of spaces — comprising more seating, tables, power
and WiFi — enables study to occur anywhere, and encourages
students to stay on campus.
22
Untethered technology and flexible floorplans have seen the
traditional lecture theatre replaced by a blended learning environment.
Here, educators and students are empowered to undertake more
personalised, face-to-face tuition, while WiFi-enabled buildings allow
for increased online content delivery.
The result? Educators, students and their peers connect
seamlessly across campus. Additionally, their global community
expands via increased interactions with international educators and
thought leaders.
Back on home soil, sticky campuses also deliver ample amenity
to host local business representatives and community groups.
Why? So students can begin networking long before they enter
the workforce.
POSITIVE STUDENT OUTCOMES
Collaborative, peer-to-peer learning opportunities help
enhance how students experience campus life. Contributing to
a creative community, and engaging in diverse activities amid
varied environments, is a great motivator for students when
prioritising campuses.
Savvy architects understand that students want to feel like they
‘belong’ in their university environments. To achieve this objective,