Howard Community College – Learning Assistance Center

Waldon Studio Architects designed the Learning Assistance Center located in the RCF building on the Howard Community College [HCC] campus. Students and staff raised concerns about having difficulty staying focused and keeping their attention during tutoring and group work. Therefore, HCC wished to provide acoustic attenuation and design elements to partially limit visual and noise distractions in the central group breakout area. The architectural design team used 21^st Learning strategies to foster flexibility, collaboration, communication, and included movable learning stations, flexible group teaming zones, presentation monitors & projection screens, movable & fixed writing surfaces, and quiet one-on-one zones. To accomplish this, a combination of solid, transparent and translucent divider panels, acoustic attenuation, increased lighting and alteration of the HVAC system were utilized. Design also incorporated new furniture layout of the computer lab and a new information desk, check-in kiosk and seating area in the lobby.

• Location

  Columbia, MD

• Client

  Howard Community College

• Size

  3,900sf

• Year Completed

  2014