By Alexi Knock, Managing Editor
This summer, five students devoted their entire vacation to transforming the Calkins Hall computer lab from a place with industrial rows of computers to a high-tech meeting spot for software tutoring or group work.
Calkins has always been less popular than the Hammer Lab – located across from Axinn Library – so the Student Computing Services team spent last Spring conducting dozens of interviews with students to find out what changes they wanted to see to the University’s computer labs.
“Every student we talked to said, ‘we like Hammer the way it is so why would you change it?'” said Judith Tabron, Director of Faculty Computing Services. “We formulated a plan for Calkins from there and hired five students, who worked all summer on together.”
The new lab includes 15 new iMacs, mobile tables, a media bench and projectors for students to display their work for group projects. Students can come in for free tutoring on several software programs, use the Pride Print system or just hang out in the café style layout.
“I think students are going to love the new study lounge environment,” said Aquino. “The future of Calkins Lab will be the successful linking between technology and the modern missing.”
Mediascape features circular sofa seating for group presentations on a large monitor. (Michaela Papa/The Chronicle)