Reimagining College Spaces to Meet the Needs of Today’s Students

To meet the diverse needs of both learners and educators, flexibility and adaptability are key components of effective college learning environments. Higher education spaces should be designed to accommodate various educational approaches, independent and collaborative learning, and nontraditional students who do not live on campus.

To achieve this, institutions should design multipurpose spaces that can adapt to changing educational needs and accommodate different users of the space, such as professors, student groups, and individuals. For example, MiEN incorporated various mobile furnishings into the SUNY Orange Student Center, including tables and chairs on casters and flip-top tables that can be easily stored. These furnishings enable the space to be reconfigured when necessary to accommodate a variety of uses.

Creating flexibility in college spaces is key to giving students voice and choice in their learning, a concept that is central to a holistic college experience. Whether students want to work independently or collaborate with their peers, flexibility is an important part of cultivating student engagement in the classroom. At Hampton University, MiEN combined modular desks with mobile chairs to ensure the space could easily be adapted for both individual and team activities.

Moreover, comfort is essential in student-focused spaces. Comfortable environments can be achieved through ergonomic furnishings, lighting, color choices, and noise and temperature control elements. In the SUNY Orange Student Center, student comfort was prioritized with comfortable lounge furniture from MiEN’s Chameleon Lounge line, varied chair and table heights, and a thoughtful mix of natural and overhead lighting.

Beyond academics and engagement, reimagining college spaces must also support students’ social and emotional needs. Today’s students face many challenges, including mental health struggles and social isolation. Higher education institutions have an opportunity to create environments that cultivate wellbeing and foster community by considering students’ social and emotional needs throughout the design process.

Creating vibrant and welcoming common spaces can promote social interactions and community-building on campus. Whether students come to these spaces to take a break, meet with peers, or study, flexible and engaging spaces enable them to interact with their campus community in a way that suits them.

Furthermore, schools need to consider ways to support students’ emotional health on campus. In addition to the development of counseling centers and student support programs, there also need to be spaces on campus where students can seek respite throughout the day. Libraries are a good place for students to find quiet, but it’s also important to create spaces––such as the private study rooms in the SUNY Orange Student Center––where students can work alone or study without interruptions. At Northeast Lakeview College, strategically-placed one- and two-person pods meet students’ need for peace or alone time when they are on campus.

Preparing students for career opportunities should be a main focus of higher education institutions, and the intentional design of campus spaces plays an important role in this endeavor. As the job market continues to evolve, colleges must ensure that their learning environments are designed to equip students with relevant skills for high-demand careers.

For example, at Northeast Lakeview College, a STEM Facility was created to address population growth trends in the region and prepare students for jobs with projected high growth. The institution chose to focus on STEM, a fast-growing field with a current and growing need for skilled workers. Partnering with MiEN, Northeast Lakeview developed a facility with active learning spaces, labs, and lecture halls that incorporate technology, collaborative elements, and sustainable features. These reimagined college spaces include mobile furniture that enhances the new STEM learning space and modern, colorful design elements that contribute to an engaging and inviting environment.

In higher education design, it’s important to consider all of the different ways students utilize campus spaces. The college experience is no longer one-size-fits-all, and it’s crucial that educational spaces adapt to acknowledge this modern reality. By reimagining college spaces, institutions can meet the changing needs of today’s students and provide an inclusive higher education experience.

MiEN is a valuable partner when reimagining higher education spaces. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your institution design transformative spaces that meet the evolving needs of today’s students.