Collaborative Learning Strategy for The Physical Sciences Building at Cornell University

DEA5540 Workplace Strategy March 17, 2021

Collaborative Learning Strategy The Physical Sciences Building

Annabelle Davy Claire Choi Matthew Canabarro

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I: INTRODUCTION

5

Executive Summary Site & Context

6 8

PART II. FINDINGS

11

Surveys and Interviews On-Site Observations User Personas Case Studies Goals and Criteria

PART III. RECOMMENDATIONS Short-Term Recommendations Summary of Short-Term Recommendations Transitioning from Short-Term to Long-Term Long Term Recommendations Summary of Long-Term Recommendations

PART IV. APPENDICES A. References B. Primary Research 1. Surveys a. Google Form b. Analysis & Results 2. Interviews a. Question Bank b. Interview Notes 3. On-site Observations a. Behavior Mapping

12 14 16 18 25

27 28 38 39 40 54

57 58

60 61 64 65 68

3

4

4

PART I. INTRODUCTION

5

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Mission The mission of this project is to create a set of programming recommendations for the first floor of the Physical Sciences Building at Cornell University to support collaborative and interdisciplinary learning in higher education through adaptable and accessible community spaces.

Purpose This document is intended to provide a phased programming outline for the first floor of the Physical Sciences Building (PSB) at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Over the last several years, work has become increasingly collaborative and multidisciplinary in all aspects of education. This is a challenge for universities as the design and planning of existing academic buildings are based on an older learning model that emphasized passive, lecture-based learning. However, students today are oriented towards an educational model that focuses on active learning and engaged teamwork in addition to traditional lecture courses. The buildings within Cornell’s campus are no different and necessitates change as higher education continues to evolve. Our task is to reimagine how PSB can better support these new ways of learning through both short and long-term recommendations.

Approach For this project we chose to take a two-phased approach. Phase 1 involves shortterm strategies that are practical and quick to implement while Phase 2 involves the implementation of long-term solutions with the goal of transforming the space into an ideal status. The success of Phase 1 determines the necessity for Phase 2 based on consistent measurements and student/faculty/facility involvement.

Summary of Findings Insights regarding the usage, types of activities, and attitudes toward PSB were collected through the use of surveys and interviews with students, administrators, and facilities management, as well as on-site observations and behavior mappings of the physical space. We also conducted secondary research by examining case studies and best practices on collaborative spaces in higher education and workplace 6

workplace settings. The first floor of the building can be divided into 5 different public spaces: Baker Portico, Baker Atrium, Clark Atrium, South Passageway, and Rockefeller Terrace. The spatial structure currently features an open plan along the perimeter of the building, while lecture halls and laboratory spaces are placed centrally. We found that PSB serves as a common intersection point between the pathways students take on campus. However, it doesn’t take full advantage of qualities such as its location and spaciousness to better support and optimize the academic, social, and event-based needs of all the users in the space.

Summary of Recommendations Based on the research our team conducted, we developed phased recommendations that intend to support the mission of providing Cornell students a space for collaborative and interdisciplinary learning.

Phase 1, the short-term recommendations, encompass aspects such as maintenance, furniture, and technology-based solutions that can be implemented quickly. Examples include the use of modular and multi-functional furnishings that can be optimized for both academic and event settings, and the provision of more technology such as outlets and collaborative equipment. Based on the implementation and success of Phase 1, this will inform and determine the longterm recommendations of Phase 2.

Our goal and vision for PSB in the long-term is for it to become Cornell’s most central and diverse interdisciplinary hub, bringing students from all backgrounds in an effort to create a more unified campus. Based on our goals of creating this multifaceted hub, we developed an intervention called The Pond, a high-level branding, spatial, and operation strategy that leverages PSB’s location as a gathering ground within the Cornell ecosystem to provide a welcoming and casual gathering spot for any student pursuing any study. We envision each space within PSB to have a designated function and identity to support the diverse range of social interactions and types of collaboration that occur in higher education, giving students the necessary environment and resources to best support their academic and social needs.

Throughout this transformation of PSB, it is imperative to involve all the users in the process in redefining and co-creating this space through their active engagement in the design and strategy process to ensure that the new space is designed for the users and their needs.

7

SITE & CONTEXT

(A Look Inside the Physical Sciences Building, 2010)

(About the Physical Sciences Building, n.d.)

The Physical Sciences Building (commonly referred to as PSB) was built in 2010 as a joint project between the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Engineering. The space has more than 30 research labs, a 120-seat auditorium, and various dining and gathering spaces. The building accommodates the research groups of the Departments of Physics, the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, and the School of Applied and Engineering Physics. Its glass structure and open plan architecture is meant to encourage chance encounters and new insights/partnerships. (About the Physical Sciences Building, n.d.)

PSB acts as a connector and neighbor to Rockefeller Hall, Baker Hall, and Clark Hall. Its proximity to North Campus, the Arts Quad, the Agriculture Quad, and Statler Hall defines the building as a central node on Cornell’s campus, always bustling with activity. In summary, its structure and location create magnetic nodes for "neighborhoods" on campus, acting as an ecosystem of buildings that house collaborative/active spaces, hosting cross-disciplinary encounters balanced with a sense of territory/ownership.

The first floor of the building is made up of five public use spaces- Baker Portico, Baker Atrium, Clark Atrium, South Passageway, and Rockefeller Terrace. Each of these five areas are detailed in our recommendation sections. In terms of amenities, Goldie’s Cafe is an eatery where many students stop for meals, drinks, and quick snacks. Traffic flows through all five spaces and to the outdoor, neighboring areas. PSB’s central location directly fosters hundreds of pathways and shortcuts for users to take whether they are staying within the building or utilizing it to get to another destination.

8

Although seen more frequently as an academic setting, the Physical Sciences Building is also just as much an event space. The majority of the furniture choices made were for event purposes and ease of event to academic transition. Events like graduation, banquets, dinners, and colloquiums are held in the Clark Atrium area. Before faculty complained due to noise and echo caused by the ceiling structure of the building, concerts, modeling events, and dances were held as well.

The Physical Sciences Building is a well used and well-loved space. But, in this report, we want to critically understand its position as both an academic and event space, while creating a new vision rooted in user-based insights of what it is and what it can be.

Annotated Map of Cornell Central Campus

Feature Map of PSB and Adjacent Buildings

9

10

10

PART II. FINDINGS

11

SURVEYS & INTERVIEWS When entering our research process, we knew it was going to be extensive not only because of the number of spaces, but also because of the wide variety of users involved in the function of said spaces. These users include students, faculty, facilities people, and administrators.

To gauge student opinions, we sent out a Google Forms asking about their experiences, likes, dislikes, and general comments and suggestions about PSB. We viewed this as the best way to gain as full circle of student insight as possible.

Students frequently mentioned their love for the natural light, tall ceilings, bustling environment, location, accessibility, inviting energy, and variety of seating. But these comments directly translated into issues and dislikes with the space. In terms of dislikes, students mentioned the levels of/traveling noise, lack of variety in table sizes, coldness and discomfort of furniture, crowding in hallways and transitory areas, awkwardness with passerbys, lack of privacy, social pressures of group work discussion, etc. Many had much to say about specific recommendations about the furniture, foot traffic, greenery, expansions, and overall improvements as well, partially inspiring our ideation and recommendations moving forward.

[APPENDIX B.1.a]

When it came to the facilities and administrators, we conducted multiple Zoom interviews. Similar to the students, the goal was to gain as much understanding about their roles and opinions of the space, but also an additional goal to learn more about the specifics of their day to day. This was especially helpful in understanding the event planning processes these users are involved in and what the transition from academic to event is actually like. Facilities managers shared details of the difficulty of having to move the 70lb tables that frequently scratched the floor and wobbled; the desire to utilize the outdoor terrace more but issues with planters and red-staining berries; narrowness and limitations of the hallway space; etc. Administrators further shared the process of event planning, event types held in the atrium, furniture details, and various policies having to do with egress, capacity, catering, smoke doors, scheduling etc. No faculty were directly interviewed but other user groups provided insights to their experiences as well. These details included favorability over large round tables for discussion and office hours with small groups of students.

[APPENDIX B.2]

12

13

ON-SITE OBSERVATIONS In addition to interviews, we went to the space ourselves and conducted on-site observations and mapping. We went into this process under the assumption that furniture placement and traffic was slightly different due to COVID-19. However, we were still able to gain a deep understanding of how our users moved throughout the existing physical conditions despite. [APPENDIX B3] Baker Portico • Individual work • Very quiet • Eating • Noise travels from Goldie’s • Foot traffic from doorway that connects PSB to Baker • Most of seating placed by built-in stone benches

South Passageway • Terrace view • Quietest area • Noise from heater/vents • Furniture is movable but loud • One person in meeting/interview • Mostly quiet work • LOWEST noise from Goldie’s

Baker Atrium • Light conversation • Noise travels from Goldie’s • Foot traffic down hallway • Lighting is darker than surrounding areas • Heavy leather sofas placed along perimeter of hallway • Mostly quiet individual work/relaxing/sleeping/eating

Rockefeller Terrace • Relatively empty due to winter • Two large planters in the middle and nice view of west area of campus • Seating is uncomfortable (only concrete benches) • Two stories → small courtyard area under steps

Clark Atrium • Mix of individual and group work • Noise travels from Goldie’s • Foot traffic to left side of atrium (space designated as door clearance) • Receives ample light • Receives noise / foot traffic from all other adjacent areas

14

PSB Blocking Diagram

Baker Portico

Baker Atrium

South Passageway

Clark Atrium

Rockefeller Terrace

15

USER PERSONAS Based on our research data, we identified 6 unique personas to encompass the various users of PSB. Each persona that has been identified reflects certain characteristics, needs, and frustrations that were communicated to our team during the interviews and surveys we conducted.

First is Bailey, an individual studier who seeks private places to work, with low visual distraction and comfortable seating. She needs low auditory distraction and ample lighting, and is frustrated by being forced to sit in more social or uncomfortable spaces.

Second is Alex, who is a group studier and is looking for a study space for his class project group. He wants furniture, equipment, and technology that facilitate collaboration. He needs variable seating options and a semienclosed space for auditory privacy, and is annoyed by unavailability of group spaces and noise distractions.

Third is Carter, who is a student passerby. He often walks through PSB as a shortcut to get to other places on campus, and will sometimes stop by Goldie’s for lunch in between classes.

He wants to avoid large crowds, grab a snack or lunch, and ultimately, get to his destination.

Because he’s on the go, he needs easy navigable spaces and noticeable entry/exit.

Last, he is frustrated by wandering eyes as he passes by others, and echoing footsteps.

16

Fourth is Erin, who is an event-goer, and is in the space to converse with others. She wants large floor space in order to achieve more privacy when desired, large group tables, and ample lighting. She needs open space for talking to others and restricted echo to hear conversations. She is frustrated by the inability to hear others, and by being forced to separate from conversations.

Fifth is Roy, who is a facility manager of the space. He is in charge of daily building operations, maintenance and repairs, and the arrangement of the space. He wants to optimize PSB’s footprint and needs more storage for furniture and equipment. He is frustrated by expensive maintenance projects and scratch marks from the improper movement of furniture.

Last is Jennifer, an administrator of the space who assumes a role of delivering a positive experience to everyone through the space she oversees. She wants improved lighting and a say in the decision-making and testing of new spaces. She also needs easily movable furniture as well as more storage, and is annoyed when mistaken as the first point of contact in the space.

17

CASE STUDIES For our secondary research, we looked at various examples of collaborative buildings and workspaces. We used this resource as an opportunity to understand what the key considerations are in developing a collaborative workspace for college students.

(Cisco Offices / Studio O+A, 2014)

The first case study we examined was CISCO Headquarters. With a waterfront view and overall spacious feel, the CISCO headquarters accommodates the group and individual working needs of their employees. The space directly urges mobility and adaptability with whiteboards, corkboards, modular furniture, etc. to give them control and creative freedoms. Use of innovative acoustic partitions and spatial opportunities for collaboration gave us inspiration to delve into how the needs of various activities in a space can work in harmony (Cisco Offices / Studio O+A, 2014).

18

(Robinson, 2017)

Secondly, we looked at OUTCAMP in San Francisco. A co-working space in San Francisco, OUTCAMP is a hidden gem of camping trailers available to rent through mobile app by Campsyte. Some of their main amenities include access through membership pass or hourly rental, powerstrips/outlets, an enclosed kitchen with coffee and snacks. There is a range of meeting rooms, working rooms, bathroom, and outdoor seating all open for use. OUTCAMP acts as an example of a group of people responding to changes in tech and transportation. With an influx of vacant lots, CAMPSYTE responded with a new strategy, but the effort seemed more thrown together than expected or desired.

19

CASE STUDIES CONT.

(Albert R. Mann Library, n.d.)

Albert R. Mann Library at Cornell University was a great reference for a space where a lot of different activity is happening at once. This library on the Ag Quad is where quiet work, collaboration and leisure meet. The first floor has Manndibles Cafe, an office supply section, printing stations, film scanning, offices, a main desk, computer labs, seminar rooms, and classrooms. The second floor has the Bisset Collaborative Work Center, printing stations, film scanning, natural views, modular furniture, meeting rooms, study rooms, a main portrait room, and gallery. This library is extremely successful in balancing many user groups and various needs of work, travel, collaboration, and leisure. It is directly connected to many buildings on the quad and expands to the large outdoor quad as well.

20

(eHUb, n.d.)

Another space on Cornell Campus we looked at was eHub in Kennedy Hall and Collegetown. These two workspaces were created to provide various students and their startups the space to work towards entrepreneurial endeavors. This was a prime example of various user groups coming together in one space with a similar goal of entrepreneurship. Within both spaces there is modular seating, whiteboards, private meeting rooms, large areas with variable team/individual seating, and large meeting spaces/desks.

21

CASE STUDIES CONT.

(New South Student Center | Georgetown University, n.d.)

We also looked at two separate university spaces. The first was the New Youth Student Center at Georgetown University. This student center acts as a “living room for students. There are various group work pods and individual workstations, as well as an outdoor landscaped area that brings the living space outdoors, allowing students to take moments of relaxation and socialization in nature. But a unique feature of this student center is the Saxa living wall. This wall is a stone clad green wall that brings a refreshing, natural element to the Great Room, also assisting in bringing the project to LEED Gold certification. This design feature is unlike any found in our other case studies (New South Student Center | Georgetown University, n.d.). The second university space we looked at was the Watt Family Innovation Center at Clemson University in South Carolina. This innovation center is a home for “creative inquiry.” Created as an initiative for hands-on learning and research. The purpose of the space is “demonstrate and enable education, discovery, and innovation.” The amenities and spaces are very unique with areas for rapid prototyping, a product lab, project work room, development studio, immersive visualization theater, etc. There is a large variety in seating, atrium, cafe, and directly connected outdoor space (Watt Family Innovation Center / Perkins+Will, 2017).

22

(1901 Poplar Innovation Hub / Medium Plenty, 2021)

Lastly, we looked at the 1901 Poplar Innovation Hub in Oakland, CA. This is a startup innovation hub and multi-faceted workspace for the underserved and underrepresented communities of West Oakland. An approachable and flexible space to be used by youth groups to start-ups to serve as a bridge for opportunities in technology. The design calls for activating the large space by creating maximum flexibility through a variety of multi-functional spaces and furniture. The space includes a cafe, makerspace, modular seating, moveable partitions, dedicated offices, large conference rooms, a communal kitchen, and a lounge area (1901 Poplar Innovation Hub / Medium Plenty, 2021).

23

CASE STUDIES SUMMARY A key observation made with our case studies was the direct application of mission and theme into the physical space. Whether it be entrepreneurship or inspired creativity, these spaces exemplify the direct passions and desires of their key users by providing unique amenities and well-thought-out design solutions. Our goal with this secondary research was to gauge the diversity of collaborative working in the last decade, looking at both outdoor and indoor coworking spaces that are permanent, and more installation/pop-up based. We specifically looked at case studies where the buildings had varying activities and levels of interaction, paralleling the Physical Sciences Building. But we also looked at case studies that were starkly different from PSB to gain inspiration and further expand our what makes a good collaborative working environment.

24

GOALS & CRITERIA After identifying our six user personas, we set three main goals for the rest of our proposal: 1. To leverage the position of the first floor of the Physical Sciences Building as a central node of campus 2. To best utilize the space as a hub of student gathering and collaboration through the provision of necessary furniture and atmospheric qualities 3. To research and address the disconnect in event and academic purposes of the space Additionally, we created three main criteria of what entails a good collaborative learning environment (influenced by our case studies and user/observational research). All of our assessments of PSB and its five spaces connect back to these themes and were essential to our recommendation process to be detailed within the report.

Social Interaction The relationship between individuals in the space. This encompasses qualities such as group size, types of interactions, and dynamics or emotions.

Structure + Ambiance The spatial and environmental qualities of a space. This encompasses qualities such as lighting, materiality, acoustics, furnishings, and equipment.

Proximity + Accessibility The adjacencies and how they link to the space. This encompasses qualities such as wayfinding, traffic flow, and connectivity between surrounding spaces.

25

26

26

PART III. RECOMMENDATIONS

27

SHORT-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS Baker Portico Baker Portico is located at the connection point between PSB and Baker Hall and is directly adjacent to Baker Atrium, welcoming students who are traversing from Goldie’s Cafe and from Baker Hall. It is a relatively large open space that faces the front of the building and features a large curtain wall, allowing an abundant amount of light to shine through. It is occasionally used to host smaller events such as guest-speaker events and receptions.

From our observations, we identified that the space is predominantly used for individual, quiet study. However, because it is located in front of the doorway into Baker Hall and is adjacent to Baker Atrium, there is often foot traffic that comes from both of these locations and noise from Goldie’s that travels into the portico. These disturbances are not conducive to independent, focused work, and we identified that the space has an opportunity to better facilitate the needs of individual studiers.

In terms of structure, it promotes “perimeter behavior” because of the placement of furniture items within the space. Although there are some tables and chairs located in the center of the space, most of the seating is placed along the walls and the windows.

Alongside the wall facing the Baker doorway is a built-in stone bench with several circular 2-top tables and metal chairs placed for individual or 28

chairs placed for individual or 2-person seating. There are also individual seating options along the large windows for students to utilize. However, there is a limited number of these individual workstations available to students, and the furniture options provided are often uncomfortable for long-periods of studying.

Furthermore, the current space lacks any form of way to reduce sound transmission from people traveling between PSB and Baker Hall, as well as from Goldie’s Cafe and Baker Atrium.

Based on these observations, we are proposing that Baker Portico should primarily be a quiet space to facilitate focused work while minimizing distractions for individual studiers. Our short-term recommendations for the maintenance of the space involve the use of multi-functional furnishings that can accommodate both independent studying as well as smaller events, alleviating some of the challenges involved with switching between an academic and event space, such as minimizing the need to store furniture.

To support independent study, we recommend having seating and table arrangements for one person, as well as individual work pods that offer more privacy for those who are looking for it. We also recommend implementing seating options that are comfortable and cozy, including cushions on the stone bench and the use of soft and organic materials for work pods. To facilitate more visual and auditory privacy, this can be done through the use of moveable acoustic partitions and high-backed chairs, which can also block excess sunlight from the large windows.

Lastly, to support the technological needs of these individual studiers, we suggest having individual adjustable lamps, inviting students to customize their workspace in a way that best facilitates their study needs, as well as individual fixed outlets at each work pod to reduce the need for students to share outlets or relocate to a different study spot.

29

SHORT-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS Baker Atrium Baker Atrium sits between Baker Portico and Clark Atrium. It is the closest space to Goldie’s in PSB, and thus receives a lot of traffic going into and out of it.

In Baker Atrium, we observed that most users engage in light conversation, since the space is narrower and has less groupwork accommodations. The lower noise in this space, coupled with plush furniture, leads many users to also use it for relaxing, sleeping, and eating. Despite this variety of uses, the space’s privacy is compromised by its primary function as a passageway between Baker Hall and other parts of campus like the Agriculture Quad. The narrowness of the space and the amplified noise that this creates within it also creates a phenomenon of “rubbernecking” or being watched by others as you pass by.

Baker Atrium’s structure contains leather sofas which are currently placed along the perimeter of the corridor (this seems to be a temporary setup, since the seating along the south side of the space blocks an egress pathway). There are also circular center tables and footrests between pairs of leather sofas. This space lacks acoustic interventions such as partitions that prevent noise from carrying, especially with the narrowness and height of the space. This includes the lack of a barrier separating passerby and students who are working within the space, since the areas where these t 30

these two user groups spend their time are so close to each other. The space also lacks proper furnishings that are conducive to comfortable quiet work, with the only current seating being the leather sofas which do not have tables.

In terms of proximity to other spaces in PSB, Baker Atrium is a direct connection path between Goldie’s and Baker Portico, and this function results in consistent foot traffic in the space throughout the day. However, this primary function as a connective node between two larger areas of PSB makes it lose distinction and separation from the other spaces, and thus becomes underutilized regardless of its presence in the building.

With all these provisions and shortcomings to be considered, we propose that Baker Atrium functions as a relaxation area or lounge where people who come to Goldie’s want to stay in and enjoy their food while also being able to casually engage in their schoolwork.

To best accommodate a comfortable and free-flowing environment, we also recommend that there be casual furnishings that make this function clear to the user who may be new to the space. This involves installing bar-height tables and chairs, as well as seating like sofas, couches, and armchairs. These furniture pieces should be lightweight for easy movement, soft underneath to prevent wear-andtear on floor tiling, and manufactured with organic and warm materials.

To make Baker Atrium truly become a space where users want to spend a lot of their time, we lastly recommend that in the short term, movable outlet stations and floor outlets be set up for students to constantly power their devices. To better facilitate the actions that we anticipate taking place — such as eating or casually working — we recommend that there be additional lighting fixtures like floor lamps that offer focused illumination across the seating and tables.

31

SHORT-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS Clark Atrium Clark Atrium lies at the epicenter of PSB, acting as an interstitial space between Baker Hall and Rockefeller Hall. It is also the biggest indoor space of the four indoor spaces analyzed in this report (excluding Rockefeller Terrace, an outdoor space), and is used for large events such as graduation ceremonies and organization banquets.

In Clark Atrium, we identified that the social activity consists of a mix between individual and group work. Louder conversation and eating also take place in this space, since the open space does not convey a sense that the space should facilitate private behaviors. However, the openness and loudness of this space makes interacting within it awkward, whether it is the loud footsteps of a passerby or an echoing conversation between a group of people sitting in the space. We identified that the space was lacking in a clear separation between group and individual studiers and thus failed to create a space that was conducive to either condition of studying.

The structure of the space consists of banquet tables, chalkboard partitions, metal chairs, and a walkway that is directly parallel to the seating area. This space’s ambient environment involves a substantial degree of noise from Goldie’s that permeates throughout the high-ceiling atrium. This uninterrupted noise through the space led us to realize that 32

space led us to realize that the space lacks acoustic partitions to block noise from carrying. We also recognized that there was a need for furnishings that could properly accommodate the various kinds of group dynamics that can be found in the space.

Being at the center of the PSB program, Clark Atrium receives foot traffic from all other areas, such as Baker Portico/Atrium as well as the South Passageway which runs parallel to Rockefeller Terrace. Clark Atrium is also in close proximity to Goldie’s, which is beneficial to some of the space’s users but also poses problems for others. For example, at peak hours of Goldie’s such as lunchtime, there is a lot of crossover of traffic between students seeking to get from one place to another, and those who want to get something to eat. This causes the nodes of access between Clark Atrium and other spaces to be blocked, and makes the experience of passing through the space difficult at times. This inability to manage traffic well is compiled at transition times between classes, where students who are leaving the building after a class add to the existing traffic.

Therefore, we are proposing that Clark Atrium should be a primarily collaborative space that is modular in order to accommodate other programs that the users participate in. Due to this, our short-term recommendations for maintenance of the space involve implementing adjustable fixtures that can dually facilitate studying and events. This adjustable furniture should also be multi-functional so that the need for storing furniture is minimized.

We also recommend that in the short term, whiteboard/chalkboard partitions are added so that students who are in a group can create a more private space to carry out their work. We also recommend that soft materials are included in either the existing or new seating, and that seating and tables are provided to accommodate not only small (1-2 person) groups, but also larger (4+ person) groups. This furniture should be stackable, organic in material, lightweight for easy transportation, and soft at the bottom to prevent scratching from occurring due to the incorrect movement of it on the hard ground.

Last, in order to revitalize this space as one that is meant for facilitating interdisciplinary work, we recommend that collaboration monitors, positionadjustable lamps, movable outlet stations, and floor outlets be installed. This would allow students to have access to any technology they need beyond the physical space they occupy.

33

SHORT-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS South Passageway South Passageway is a small space at the south side of PSB. It contains a stairwell leading from the Arts Quad, a bench area, and access to both Clark Atrium and Rockefeller Terrace.

In this space, we identified that due to the existing furniture and layout, it is mostly conducive to individual work. There is eating in this space, and light conversation occurs, but it is limited. The entry points of the space — one receiving traffic from the Arts Quad and the other from Clark Atrium — allows for a lot of passerby interaction, since many people use the space to travel between East, West, and North campus.

Conversely, the amount of travel causes a lot of uncomfortable gazing as passersby create noise across the space.

The South Passageway’s structure is almost entirely fixed, with stone benches embedded in the walls and columns that impede the footprint of the space. In terms of movable furniture, there are tables and chairs that allow 1-2 people to sit at each table. A unique facet of the South Passageway’s ambience is that acoustic disturbances, whether by Clark Atrium or Goldie’s are mitigated since the space diverts from the main north-south corridor of PSB, making it an area that supports individual work. However, the frequency of people traveling through the space, especially from outside the building, causes 34

the exterior doors to constantly open and close and thus the temperatures of the space to fluctuate. The amount of glass smoke doors adjacent to the South Passageway also leads to cooler temperatures as air is less efficiently regulated.

Therefore, the space lacks ample insulation, thermal management, and separation between the indoors and outdoors. The stone benches also lack comfortable coverings, and as a hard material, they can become cold to sit on as well.

The ambience of the South Passageway is reinforced by the fact that it is the furthest indoor space from Goldie’s, which reduces the permeation of disturbing noise. This area also receives a lot of foot traffic since, as mentioned before, it is an intersection between many points of campus. While there is not much that it lacks in its proximity to other areas, it is far and out of sight from the PSB bathrooms, making it difficult to defend personal property while using the facilities.

The qualities of the South Passageway have led us to recommend it as a quiet and casual space for individuals or partner groups. In terms of maintenance and due to the narrowness of the space, the many egress pathways in the space must be maintained as more amenities are added to the space. As for furniture, we recommend that cushions are added to the stone bench to soften it and make it more welcoming to users. Last, since outlets in the space currently only exist on its edges and not consistently across the seating area, we recommend that fixed outlets, whether on the bench or on the floor, be implemented so that users do not have to move elsewhere to charge their devices.

35

SHORT-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS Rockefeller Terrace Rockefeller Terrace is an outdoor patio that is currency vacant besides fixed features like a stone bench. Like the South Passageway, the terrace space provides access from the Arts Quad to PSB, but it has no activity from either studiers or passerby during inclement weather.

The space and its existing provisions are used for occasional outdoor picnic events held by administrators during the summertime. Its function as a walking passageway also allows users to get from one place to another without offering much else in terms of spontaneously gathering people to the space. The terrace is set apart from other PSB spaces in that it is an extremely underutilized area of infrastructure. As mentioned before, the current space does not offer anything to social users, and thus affords a lot of room for recommendations, which will be identified later.

In terms of the space’s structure, there are currently two large planters and fixed stone benches which take up a large portion of the space’s footprint. The ambience of the space is restorative and refreshing since it is open-air, however not much else is done to deliver a unique experience to people who may want to use the space. The space currently lacks any type of program to facilitate a specific behavior beyond what is ingrained in the structure, and because the 36

the space is exposed to the elements, it lacks weather shelters that would allow users to have a prolonged opportunity to engage with and experience the outdoor area of PSB. Running adjacent to the South Passageway, Rockefeller Terrace acts as an interstitial space between the west side of PSB and Rockefeller Hall. Connecting many areas of campus, this space is therefore proximal to a diverse set of users from many backgrounds, which helps it in terms of its ability to already attract people to it. That being said, due to the identicality of the path offered by the terrace to the South Passageway, users are more likely to go inside and are much more likely to do so on a nice day, effectively diminishing much of the foot traffic that would be expected to transpire across the terrace. It is also far from the amenities of PSB, such as the bathrooms and Goldie’s, leaving it with no desirable or stand-out qualities that would compel a user to work outside rather than inside.

Because of this untapped potential of the space, we intend to increase Rockefeller Terrace’s appeal to students on campus by making it a lively outdoor workspace with many provisions that are conducive to collaboration and productive work. To do this, we recommend that for maintenance, any furniture added to the space is multi-functional and weather-resistant so users can begin to work outside. By being weather resistant, this would also allow the furniture to be outside longer and reduce the need for storage. Going into the furniture specifically, we recommend that there be seating and tables offering variable workspace opportunities: to use the fixed bench in the space, 1-2 person tables should be placed alongside it, and throughout the middle of the space, there should be 4+ person tables to accommodate larger-group work. Last, since the space is outdoor, it would be more difficult to introduce any new outlet fixtures. Therefore, to enhance the ambience of the space and its overall appeal to users, we recommend that space heaters, outdoor string lights, and pathway lights be installed to make the space warmer and brighter across the day and the year.

37

SUMMARY OF SHORT-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS To summarize the overarching strategies for the short-term proposals, we focused on the following three aspects across the 5 different spaces within PSB: maintenance, furniture, and technology.

Maintenance Maintenance involves utilizing multi-functional furnishings that reduce the need for storage and make it easier to adapt to different settings.

Furniture Furniture solutions include the use of modular furniture pieces that are made with organic and warm materials to support user comfort.

Technology Technology encompasses the implementation of collaborative equipment for students and the provision of outlets for both academic and event settings.

38

TRANSITIONING FROM SHORT-TERM TO LONG-TERM The success and implementation of our Phase 1 goals determines the necessity for the ideas we seek to implement in Phase 2. To ensure that Phase 1 is implemented properly and effectively, students and faculty must be involved in creating new space arrangements, as well as having facility and administrative peoples determine standard furniture arrangement and breakdown policies. This would integrate all of the users in the process of redefining the space that they either inhabit or oversee depending on their role, and would ensure that the new space is designed for the users rather than by an entity that is disconnected from them. We would also have to revisit Cornell event policies to ensure that our maintenance, furniture, and technology recommendations — especially in Clark Atrium, which would become a main area for hosting events — adhere to necessary protocols existing in the space’s regulations.

Following the implementation of Phase 1, we would have to measure its successes before moving on to our Phase 2 goals. These measurements would include a Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) to examine how the short-term recommendations, strategies, and goals that we had for the new space aligned with the true use of occupants in the redesign. We would also have to conduct more interviews and survey research into how users feel throughout the implementation of the new space. This would keep us informed on how the transformation of the space may or may not be meeting the users’ needs, as well as provide insight on any updated recommendations that should be made to ensure that development stays on the right track. Going along with these, behavior mapping should be conducted to understand through observation how the new space is utilized, with particular insights on the degree to which newly-introduced programs are being used. Last, event attendance and space occupancy should be measured to monitor any significantly positive or negative changes in space use that should be considered in the design development.

Overall, ensuring Phase 1 implementation and measuring Phase 1 success would provide necessary insights in determining the next steps forward in the redesign: Phase 2. This would establish the foundation for Phase 2, and ensure that any design implications up to that point adhered with our overall program mission.

39

LONG-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS Long-Term Recommendations

In Phase 2, or our long-term recommendations, our goal is to transform PSB into Cornell’s most central and diverse interdisciplinary hub. We see PSB as having the potential to be such a space due to the variety of activity and user types within the space already. The centrality of PSB attracts many people to not only sit down and work on the space, but also to simply pass through it in order to get from one area of campus to another. The provisions of furniture, technology, and spaciousness existing in PSB, and specifically Clark Atrium, also make it a desirable venue for events, which introduces a user group beyond just studiers or passerby. In addition to this, PSB is not only physically proximate to many areas of campus, but the plan of the building itself is very versatile and free-flowing, with a nearly entirely open plan. This therefore allows the space to be flexible and able to accommodate various programs within the same footprint.

We see PSB and the foresight of its function as an interdisciplinary hub as a remedy for the physical separation of disciplines across Cornell’s campus. With distinct quads and building conglomerates for most colleges on Cornell’s campus, it is not very often that students of different backgrounds or studies interact, let alone cross paths. This existing separation has only worsened with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the long-term solutions we have formulated offer steps to move towards a more unified campus — through the provision of a space for any person of any study.

Branding

Based on our goals of transforming PSB into an interdisciplinary hub, we developed a brand strategy that aims to support this endeavor. Inspired by the blue glass of PSB and the building acting as a gathering ground within the Cornell ecosystem, we developed The Pond, a brand and space that envisions a welcoming and casual gathering spot to address the academic and social needs of students from all majors and concentrations. We imagine this space as being one of the major hubs on campus, functioning to bring students together by seamlessly integrating the space into the daily life of any Cornell student. Using the PSB blue as a key color in our branding, we developed a color scheme that is energizing, approachable, and representative of collaboration as students study, socialize, and come together in this space.

40

The only space on Cornell campus that relieves the social pressures of university working, while accommodating the study needs of all majors and concentrations.

41

LONG-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS Baker Portico The function of Baker Portico in the long term is to provide users with any individual study needs they may have. One of our main observations was that Baker Portico receives a lot of noise and traffic from other adjacent areas in and around PSB, however the space mostly accommodates individual and small group work.

Therefore, our strategy for this space is to dedicate it solely to focused, quiet study by creating an inclusive environment with multiple options for privacy and comfort that would allow studiers to have access to their optimal environment.

A key implementation in this space will be the individual work pods. These pods are equipped with semi-translucent partitions, small desks, a lamp, and a footrest. For students who need a quiet and visually-private space to spend lots of time working on projects or assignments, this specific installation is meant for them.

Another novel feature to be introduced in the space is a set of modular seats. One of the most prominent aspects of Baker Portico is the large west-facing window, but the usable floor space under it is extremely limited due to necessary egress pathways. Therefore, these proposed modular seats, with the ability to have a larger enclosing back installed, do not only help users dictate their visual privacy.

They can also help them choose how much light they receive from outside by either swiveling the chair away from the window or installing the large back to block unwanted light.

Last, we intend to let existing tables and chairs remain in the space, next to the fixed bench. Because the bench is fixed in the space, there is not much that can be done with partitioning it into individual spaces, however it is our goal to install cushions on the bench to provide users with a further degree of comfort.

42

Baker Portico Concept Drawing

METALWORKS AIRTITE Radiant Ceiling Systems, n.d.

Co-comori, n.d.

Brody by Steelcase, n.d.

Brody by Steelcase, n.d.

APNU, n.d.

43

LONG-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS Baker Atrium Our vision for Baker Atrium in the long-term is for it to be a lounge acting as a hotspot dining and casual area. In our observations, we noticed that the space currently lacks any key identity or characteristic attached to it. Most students either simply pass straight through after their visit to Goldie’s Cafe or hunker down in one of the chairs along the perimeters of the corridor. Therefore, we want to reactivate and energize this space in a way that can better serve the students by creating a casual environment with multiple options for both relaxation and socialization.

We imagine revitalizing this space with bar-height tables and seats that can be used by students who are making a pit-stop at Goldie’s Cafe or for those who are looking for a more informal work setting.

The addition of plush seating options such as sofas and couches is included to reiterate the idea of Baker Atrium being a lounge that students can use to socialize and relax with peers. We intend to use modular lounge seating options to invite students in the co-creation of this space, allowing them to design their environment.

With this intention in mind, the modular seating should be lightweight and soft for easy spatial adjustments and to minimize the potential of scratching the flooring.

The key intention of this space is to break down the social pressures of studying by providing a warm and relaxing program for students to use regardless of their current task. We expect that the provision of variable furnishings will open up possibilities for more diverse and chance interactions between students, supporting our goal of creating a collaborative and interdisciplinary space.

44

Baker Atrium Concept Drawing

Cortez Media Group, n.d.

Campfire by Turnstone, n.d.

Hillyer, n.d.

LX396, n.d.

45

LONG-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS Clark Atrium Of the five spaces we are reimagining, Clark Atrium is the most significant of them.

Despite how the existing activity and qualities of the space support various social interactions, we have identified that there is still an opportunity to better facilitate collaboration in the atrium. We believe this can be done by leveraging its position within PSB as its dual functionality as both an academic and event space.

Therefore, our goal for Clark Atrium is for it to be one of the most optimized collaboration spaces on campus.

To go along with the initial branding of The Pond, we are looking to implement a stand-alone mobile application. This application allows students to view the availability of and reserve the collaborative booths -- called Lily Pads -- located in the space. Students can choose any duration of time to reserve a booth, and cancel their reservation at any time as well. The application serves as a highlyconvenient method for students to get the most out of the collaborative offerings provided by The Pond through a simple and accessible user interface.

46

The Pond Booking App

1. Cover page of The Pond mobile application

2. The Pond login page, asking the user to login with their Cornell credentials

3. Home screen when a user does not have an active reservation. In this case, a reservation can be made by tapping on “Book A Space”

4. After choosing to book a space, the user is presented with a list of the collaboration spaces “Lily Pads ”. Lily Pads with no available time slots left are marked as “closed”

5. When a Lily Pad is chosen by a user, they are then prompted with a screen showing booked time slots (in yellow) and time slots with available time to choose from (blue)

6. After selecting a time slot with available time, the user can input specific start and end times for their reservation, and confirm their choice by tapping “Confirm Booking”

7. Confirmation brings the user back to Home, which shows the reservation with its Lily Pad number, person capacity, and time slot. The reservation is editable by tapping on “Edit Booking”

8. When editing an existing booking, the user will see available times that don’t include time occupied by their own reservation. They can remove the reservation through “Delete Booking”

47

LONG-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS Clark Atrium Cont.

Similarly to the previous spaces, we intend to use modular furniture to facilitate group and individual work, as well as create dynamic and adjustable environments catering to both the needs of students and events. The collaboration spaces specifically should also be provided essential amenities for productive group work, such as whiteboards and digital monitors. Additionally, we’ve diagramed two use cases that implement the proposed modular furniture. First is the workspace layout, which uses the furniture not only in the construction of the Lily Pads but also in a free-flowing manner for other students to work either individually or in groups. The second diagram depicts an event layout, which re-configures the furniture by separating individual seats and creating rows that can be used for guest speaker events or graduation ceremonies. Since this modular seating will serve different spatial purposes, it is important that they are lightweight, stackable, and soft for easy transportation and arrangement.

Workspace Layout

Lastly, we are proposing the PSB Shop, a materials shop that acts as a mini “store” in Clark Atrium where students can check-out and borrow collaborative materials using their Cornell Student ID. At the PSB Shop, students can find items such as whiteboards, dry erase markers and erasers, post-its, paper, color markers, laptop and phone chargers, and adapters. We identified a need for this kind of resource within Clark Atrium because students currently lack convenient access to these resources. Since our intention for this space is to best support collaboration among students, it is crucial that we not only provide spatial and technological solutions that support this, but the necessary resources needed to actually collaborate as well.

Event Layout

48

Clark Atrium Concept Drawing

Sillones y sofas para oficina Bend | Actiu, n.d.

PSB Shop Concept Drawing

Hillyer, n.d.

49

LONG-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS South Passageway Our long-term vision for the South Passageway is for it to be a quiet and casual space to study or work. Since the space’s structure is almost entirely fixed and the egress pathway (smoke doors lined alongside the corridor) must be maintained based on building code, the implementation of large-scale spatial or furniturebased solutions is limited. Instead, we want to leverage the fact that it is a frequented travel path to other spaces and areas of campus by developing a branding intervention that welcomes users into the space.

We envision murals painted on the columns as well as on the north wall to reinforce the idea of this space being approachable and accessible to any student. Through the use of playful and relaxing graphics such as fish and lily pads, we hope to bring a sense of belonging and attachment to the space.

In addition to these murals, the built-in stone benches will be complemented with “power stations” that act as armrests and semi-partitions, as well as providing outlets for students to easily and quickly charge devices while working or while on the go.

Branded Mural Concept Drawing

50

South Passageway Concept Drawing

White Contemporary UPVC Bay Window, n.d.

Airport beam chair 8300, n.d.

Norfolk Full Bench, n.d.

ANALABO, n.d.

51

LONG-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS Rockefeller Terrace The long-term function of Rockefeller Terrace is to be the only outdoor space on campus optimized for year-round work. Despite its favorable location and ample size, the actual space is rarely inhabited by anyone, even in the warmer months.

With most of the square footage taken up by large stone planters and built-in stone benches that are uncomfortable for long-periods of sitting, the existing provisions severely limit the opportunities for people to interact with the space. Therefore, we reimagine the space as “The Patio”, a comfortable and rejuvenating environment for students that is usable in various outdoor temperatures or weather conditions.

Since we intend for this space to be used all-year round, we recommend that it be fitted with weatherproof tables and chairs made using organic materials with a high specific heat. This enables students to utilize the furnishings in rain or shine, ensures that the furniture will be durable enough to withstand weathering, and prevents them from getting too hot or cold to the touch.

We are also proposing the installment of permanent canopies and lighting fixtures in the space. The canopies should have the necessary technological capacity to be responsive to different types of weather conditions and ultimately protect students from the elements. Additionally, the lighting fixtures should be able to provide adequate task illumination when there is less daylight. Overall, these new installations ensure that students can continuously work, relax, and socialize in this outdoor setting.

Superior Shade at University of West Georgia, n.d.

52

PCH Outdoor Collaboration Space, n.d.

Rockefeller Terrace Main-Level Concept Drawing

Rockefeller Terrace Lower-Level Concept Drawing

53

SUMMARY OF LONG-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS To conclude the long-term recommendations that we’ve established, we’ve included a summary of the solutions for each space and the respective criteria that they target: Baker Portico: An individual workspace for anyone Baker Atrium: A spot for casual work and dining Clark Atrium: The hub of collaboration on Central Campus South Passageway: A place to stop by on the go Rockefeller Terrace: An outdoor space optimized for students Problems that the space solves: Social Interaction

Structure + Ambiance

We saw the amount of spaces in PSB as an opportunity to create a diverse and welcoming space for any student pursuing any study at Cornell. Therefore, each of the five spaces we analyzed and developed strategies for — Baker Portico, Baker Atrium, Clark Atrium, the South Passageway, and Rockefeller Terrace — provide for different needs. Whether a user needs an individual or collaborative workspace, an event space, a space to eat, a space to charge a device on the go, or a space to simply relax, The Pond has it all. With this broad set of accommodations that the space makes for users, The Pond can be one of the most interdisciplinary and wellsuited spaces on campus for the Cornell community.

54

Proximity + Accessibility

55

56

PART IV. APPENDICIES

57

REFERENCES 1901 Poplar Innovation Hub / Medium Plenty. (2021, January 28). ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/955834/1901-poplar-innovation-hub- mediumplenty?ad_medium=gallery A Look Inside the Physical Sciences Building. (2010). Ithacating. https://ithacating.com/2010/11/11/alook-inside-the-physical-sciences-building/ About the Physical Sciences Building. (n.d.). Physical Sciences Complex Facilities Services. https://blogs.cornell.edu/physicalsciences/about/

Airport beam chair 8300. AeroEXPO. https://www.aeroexpo.online/prod/kusch-co-gmbh-cokg/product-172202-18878.html

Albert R. Mann Library. (n.d.). Cornell University Library. https://mannlib.cornell.edu/

APNU. DesignLAB. https://designlab.lt/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/nu_profim.jpg Brody by Steelcase. Steelcase. https://www.steelcase.com/eu-en/products/lounge-seating/brody/ Campfire by Turnstone. OFIS. https://www.ofis.ae/products/brands/steelcase/campfire-byturnstone

Cisco Offices / Studio O+A. (2014, January 25). ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/469722/meraki-now- cisco-offices-studio-o-a

Co-comori. Tangerine. https://tangerine.net/en/meet-co-comori-a-japanese-modular-work-podthat-answers-the-call-for-a-flexible-environment-which-favours-both-social-distancing-andcollaborative- working-in-one-system/

Cornell University - Physical Sciences Building. (n.d.). Stantec. https://www.stantec.com/en/projects/united-states-projects/c/cornell-university-physicalsciences-building Cortez Media Group. Office Snapshots. https://officesnapshots.com/photos/75587/ eHub. (n.d.). eHub Managed by Entrepreneurship at Cornell. https://www.cornellehub.com/ Hillyer, J. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/875802/watt-family-innovation-center-perkinsplus-will Lam, K. (2018, August 7). Cornell eHub Restricts Access and Updates Membership Requirements.

Cornell Daily Sun. https://cornellsun.com/2018/08/07/cornell-ehub-restricts-access-andupdates-membership- requirements/

LX396. leolux LX. https://www.leolux-lx.com/products/modular-systems/lx396 METALWORKS AIRTITE Radiant Ceiling Systems. Armstrong Ceiling and Wall Solutions. https://www.armstrongceilings.com/commercial/en/photos-videos/projectgallery/gallery/663450.html#photo660200

New South Student Center | Georgetown University. (n.d.). Architizer. https://architizer.com/projects/new-south-student-center-georgetown-university/ Norfolk Full Bench by Benchmark Furniture. Architonic. https://www.architonic.com/en/product/benchmark-furniture-norfolk-full-bench/1243081

58

Robinson, M. (2017, June 6). This San Francisco co-working space rents vintage camping trailers by the hour. Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-campsyte-san-franciscocoworking-space-2017-6#outcamp-features-a-small-enclosed-kitchen-where-workers-canhelp-themselves-to-coffee-from-vc-backed-chain-philz-coffee-a-kombucha-tap-andhealthy-snacks-10

Sillones y sofas para oficina Bend | Actiu. ArchDaily.

https://www.plataformaarquitectura.cl/catalog/cl/products/15803/sillones-y-sofas-paraoficina-bend- actiu

Studio Hekla. ANALABO. Behance. https://www.behance.net/gallery/23945931/ANALABO Superior Recreational Products. Superior Shade at University of West Georgia. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/906449/shade-structures-for-outdoor-spaces-6-tips-toincorporate-into-your-next-project.

Watt Family Innovation Center / Perkins+Will. (2017, July 16). ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/875802/watt-family-innovation-center-perkins-pluswill?ad_medium=gallery

White Contemporary UPVC Bay Window. Indiamart.

https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/contemporary-upvc-bay-window-17359939855.html

ZGF Architects. PCH Outdoor Collaboration Space. Twitter. https://twitter.com/ZGFArchitects/status/1019617165815656448/photo/1

59

SURVEYS- GOOGLE FORM 1. What is your major?

2. What is your expected graduation year?

3. Have you been to Clark Atrium? (located in the Physical Sciences Building) a. Y or N 4. How often do you go to Clark Atrium? a. Never, occasionally, often, always 5. If you visit Clark Atrium, what is the usual purpose of your visit? a. Individual studying, team/group/club meetings, meeting faculty/office hours, eating, events, I don’t visit Clark Atrium 6. On a scale from 1 to 10, how well do you think Clark Atrium facilitates studying/working? a. Never=1, Always=10 7. What do you like about Clark Atrium? a. Short answers 8. What do you dislike about Clark Atrium? a. Short answers 9. When you visit Clark Atrium, do you ever eat at Goldie’s? a. Never, sometimes, all the time 10. Have you ever been to an event at Clark Atrium? If so, what was the event? a. Short answers 11. If you could change the space, what would you suggest? a. Short answers

60

SURVEYS- ANALYSIS What students like about the space?

• Natural light and open space • Tall ceilings and lots of space • Round group tables • I enjoy the natural light, the ample space for sitting down, and the convenient location • Large open space, bright, quiet but still able to talk, open 24/7 • Being able to see friends passing by and the openness of it • Lots of open space with natural light from big windows.

• I like the overhead bridges, those are cool. The group workspace is always nice too • It's next to goldies, convenient location on campus. Good access to North West and c-town • The physical space is big and inviting. There is always people there as well.

• The atrium offers plenty of sunlight and is always bustling with people (prepandemic). It’s spacious so my dance team often carries practices there.

• Very open, high ceilings, lot of light • Natural light, varied types of seating, cafe, watching dance teams (enjoy so many different types of people occupying space- esp. as opposed to Duffield) • The space feels very open and there is a lot of natural light. It feels like a more relaxing environment to study in. Libraries are cramped and dark. This is personal preference, but I like the ambiance of chit-chat (kind of like a cafe). It makes it seem less daunting if I want to turn a page or set my containers down. In a quiet library even, a small noise is considered a disturbance - it’s nice to have the cushion of muttered chatter.

• The Light!

• I like how much natural sunlight the atrium receives as well as the high ceilings.

• Many seats/study spaces with spot for food • Lots of natural light, very open space, interesting architectural features • There's a lot of light and easy access to food.

• Lots of open space, tall ceilings, natural light • The sandwiches there are great. I can eat peacefully with my friends.

• Lots of available seating area (when not busy), next to Goldie's which is convenient • The open space, lots of light, modern architecture • High ceiling, good atmosphere, natural light.

• The sunlight from above, easy access to a cafe and variety of seating

61

SURVEYS- ANALYSIS What students dislike?

• It’s either mad loud or mad quiet • Too loud • You can't always find a seat, or the large tables having a few people, so you don't want to • fill the table because you don't know the people.

• I don’t think I’d be able to get personal work done since I like quiet.

• Seating isn’t great, hate the plastic tables (looks cheap) and is always freezing • I dislike how crowded it can often be • Cold at night and the metal chairs feel cold • Crowded and doesn’t seem organized well for individual activities, like separating events from studying from eating • Often too crowded with not enough available seats • Goldies feels like its deep in the space, should be at a more convenient location.

Additionally, noises in the space tend to echo • Crowded • The tables are mostly large round tables which is good for large groups but not so good for small groups or individuals • Not the best place to study because its so loud. Goldie’s isn’t separated enough from the study spaces.

• If you speak it echoes and people trying to study will rubber neck at you • Can get loud at times, limited spots to plug in and charge, especially in main area adjacent to Goldie’s (outlets only against back wall!)

• Seems like it functions as a hallway as well as a sit-down space. I think it would be nicer if it were categorized as one or the other - preferably a sit-down space. Or at least if they could segment the area into a designated hallway vs sit down area - that would be nice • So crowded: looks loud. I have never been, but the photos do not make me want to go.

There looks like too many people, too many chairs and tables, it seems cold and loud.

• I think that there is too little space to study with friends, and the hallway from Goldie's leading to the other part of the building is very dark.

• Hard to find seats/places to collab when crowded • The acoustics are poor for quiet studying/when meeting in a group you have to be very aware of noise levels, and seating can be hard to find, especially if you are in a group • It's very big and feels empty.

• Loud, no private spaces • The corridor is a little bit narrow for people to walk. When classes end, everyone spills into the same corridor at once.

• Often very busy and loud, so not the best place to do work unless you have headphones • Can get noisy (especially with Goldie's nearby), hard to find a seat • Tables always filled up; a bit crowded to study there.

• lack of privacy

62

Suggestions • Better sandwiches, some couches so it’s not as stiff, study rooms of first floor so if it’s mad quiet you can just go to a room • Make it more conducive to small group studying • Create more variable seating options that allow for larger and smaller groups.

• Personal workspace opportunities • adding better tables and chairs (chairs shouldn’t be metal since it’s always cold) • I would suggest the option to reserve individual rooms/tables • Maybe switch the chairs lol • More seating and easier to walk through • Somehow adding more places to sit and eat and work, especially by the big windows • moving goldies, making more defined study spaces that can be quiet • Expand study spaces • Add more small tables and break up the space with trees or greenery • The echoing of sound across the atrium, including the hallway that connects to Baker.

Clear separation between Goldies/its eating area and study spaces.

• Move Goldies towards the center of the building instead of cramming it in the corner.

The corner could then be remodeled into a great quiet/ study space. It would also reduce the annoying foot traffic created by people forced to walk past literally everyone in the building to get to Goldies.

• more seating on upstairs mezzanine, more outlets • Separating the hallway aspect and sit-down area to separate entities • More 'negative space.' More areas to 'cozy up' in. Study spots that are closed off.

Upholstery! for warmth and sound absorption • I would like to make the study area more apparent. I would consider making an actual dining space instead of combining the study area as an eating area and study area. I would also like to add more chairs/study corners (perhaps even rooms) to study.

• More group study spaces • Add a larger variety of workspace types (table sizes, seating types, etc.) and maybe include some that are somewhat enclosed for more auditory privacy • Change up the tables (maybe to smaller square ones) • Comfier chairs • I think it is good as it is • Add more single tables • More smaller tables • The couch sitting spaces take up a lot of room that could be used for other study spaces.

• Goldies is kind of hidden at first. The seating can also be a little un-comfy especially in the summer with shorts (metal chairs)

63

INTERVIEW QUESTION BANK Students + Faculty • Do you go to Clark?

• If yes, why?

• Rank Clark atrium as a space from 1-10 • What do you like? dislike?

• Do you ever eat from Goldie’s cafe?

• If so, why?

• If you could change the space, what would you suggest?

Dining + Facilities • Rank Clark atrium as a space from 1-10 • Describe your typical workday to me.

• Detail your interactions with others. Who do you converse with? Associate with?

• What do you like? dislike? [About the space] • If you could improve the space, what would you do?

64

INTERVIEW NOTES Jason Russel- Facilities coordinator • Day-to-day: furniture set-up for events, mechanics, repairs, equipment + deliveries for lab groups

Typical workday • Building walkthrough • Check-in with lab groups • During COVID-19 • Maintenance projects • Ensuring distance between furniture • Moving furniture + acoustics • Carts available for moving furniture • Tables weight ~70 lbs each • Dragging on floor scratches floor finish • Tables have adjustable legs → often don’t lay flat on the ground Likes: • Openness • Versatile space • Big dinner/reunion/grad parties • Symposiums, fairs • Big open space = flexibility to move and set-up things Complaints/dislikes: • Building/architecture itself • Difficult to make repairs • Window blinds often don’t work • No utility chase walls for labs • 6” chase way that can’t be accessed • Leaks happen open → often a destructive process to fix • Terrace benches → stained by red berries from planters

65

Potential Improvements • More open study space and designated study areas • More storage • Get rid of planters outside to allow for seating Policies/guidelines • Atrium + West Pavilion + south passageway + baker portico are all reservable spaces • Guidelines for occupancy, space-use, egress maintenance • No balloons allowed → sets off fire alarm when it floats up • Can’t reserve Goldie’s • Limited storage available • Tables: large round banquet, 4top rectangular tables, 4-top round glass tables

INTERVIEW NOTES Susan Sullivan- Department of Physics Undergraduate & Events Coordinator Pre-COVID • Work in person • Monday = busy days → Monday lunch faculty event, followed by faculty meeting, colloquium at 4pm • Busiest time is working with visiting guests • Often working at desk + phone calls • Setting up colloquium at ~3PM held in Schwartz auditorium in Rockefeller • Food + coffee → using a cart, need to go through atrium, elevator, • 3-4:30 working on colloquium • Clean up afterwards • 8-4:30, 8-1:30, No Fridays • Monday big catch-up day • Rest of week is dealing with students and working on next week colloquiums + Bethe lecture • Public lectures = Schwartz auditorium (Rockefeller) • Other events = PSB (room 401), reception in atrium Oversee and relaying logistics of events to Tracy’s team Atrium set-up • Work with caterers → how many tables they need • Tracy oversees booking anything in PSB + getting tables set-up required for event • Tracy’s team will set-up the event • Main office by atrium, one of the first people you see when you walk into Clark hall Coordinate: • Undergraduate majors • Physics colloquium series • Bethe lecture series x2 a year → guest lecture, a week’s worth of talks • Interact with faculty, staff, outside visitors • Work part-time (25 hrs a week) • Walk-in people • One of most frustrating parts • Assumption that they’re the first point of contact and know about everything

Potential Improvements • Dream job = test out the space before it’s fully built out ie: what they do with hotel rooms • First thing is bathroom • Narrow spaces → hallway between goldies + atrium could be wider → Open up more possibilities for event planning • Lighting: all open so trying to get photographs or something on the screen can be tricky depending on outdoor weather conditions • Outdoor terrace space not used very often • Accessibility • Mixture of building use + traffic + node • Traffic flow is as good as it can be → have to go outside to get from Clark to Rockefeller, no protection from weather • 2 stairs at the second level of Clark + Rockefeller • Furniture that is easily movable and stackable • Side hall that goes towards elevators • Often smaller tables there → typically used by students who want to get work done • “Off the beaten path” • Breezeway is bumpy → could be smoother, esp when rolling carts and trying to access elevator Policies/guidelines • Tracy davenport → contact point for policy and guidelines of using space in PSB • When PSB was built → blocked 7th floor view of Clark → had view of Cayuga lake, Johnson museum • Tables + chairs moved over from goldies • When no events are going on • Leather chairs are super heavy and hard to move them and no place to store them • No good space to move them to for events

Complaints/dislikes: • Students using office space as a pass-way to get to Rockefeller + where homework boxes are located • Nearly 30-40 students walking through causes noise disruption • Space is narrow → difficult to plan events • Limited space due to hallways, goldies, auditorium • Bathroom → hate the faucets → sprays all over • Not a fan of automatic water sensor

66

Tracey Davenport- Department of Physics Undergraduate & Events Coordinator Role: • Responsible for Clark Atrium + reservations to that space • Meet with event coordinators, students, catering, alum/reunion • Provide them with idea for set-ups • Rules + regulations of space • Questions they have ie: egress pathways Space • Use to allow anything + everything to take place • Brought stages in, modeling, rock-bands, speed-dating, dances • Above Clark Atrium are faculty staff offices • Complaints from noise • Had to change what was allowed • No dancing • Only music are soft music, acapella groups • Talks, speaker system is amazing • Today: • dinners/banquets • Information sessions ie. 30 tables set-up for that (career fair, insurance companies, banks) • More lowkey now • More variety of events → control/regulated events • Events in the space can only start setting up after business hours (4pm) Typical workday Pre-covid • 12, 6ft round set-up of 9-10 chairs around each table • Each table + chair is taken up usually • Well-occupied space • Students studying, faculty group meetings • Difficult to find space • Feel bad when having to kick them out when events need to be set up • Well-utilized space COVID • Replaced with tiny 4-seater tables but only 1 seat per table • Sad to see when students are gone from the space Furniture choices • In the past, all small round tables were out (when they started in new building) • Found that they were removing them every other day for events • Small tables are along perimeter → allowing for some variability in seating • Faculty members wanted to leave the large round tables in the space • Furniture chosen based on event need → then transferred to student/faculty-based use • Want to have as much seating as possible in atrium space

67

Likes: • Well-used space • Super welcoming → sunshine from all directions • Love that space • Event coordinators + caterers beg to have events in that space Complaints/dislikes: • Don’t like to kick students out of space for events • Try to post signs that there will be an event later that day so students/faculty are aware • Could have more electrical outlets • Not a lot of floor boxes for outlets • Some people for events would love to be able to dim the lights Potential Improvements • Bigger storage space → helpful for furniture • Several events require no furniture → difficulty with storing large round tables • Need to go 5 floors up to penthouse to store furniture • Used to be able to use lab spaces but not anymore • Cart of tables around the corner • Cart of poster boards near entry to elevators • Chalkboards could be updated → special paint on them Policies/guidelines • Capacity information • Sound-system • Don’t have to use Cornell catering • Approved list of approved caterers • Egress pathways • Everybody does set-up info on a diagram • Time/scheduling → only evening events on weekdays, can be all day on weekends • Rockefeller terrace • Not really seating out there • Egress • Glass doors along south passageway are smoke doors that open out • Set-up serving tables ie. for picnic • Would love to see some tables out there for students during the day • Blinds for windows • They’ll come down depending on weather conditions • Minimize solar effects (heating) • Green-building

BEHAVIOR MAPPING

68

69

BEHAVIOR MAPPING

70

71

DEA5540 Workplace Strategy