Talking Stick - July/August 2017 - 30

FACILITIES
Students need space that supports them. Here, in the first two photos at Plymouth State, students enjoy the ample natural lighting and woodland views.
In the third photo, students at WPI appreciate group study space.

PHOtO COuRtesy OF PlyMOutH state uniVeRsity

to single pods and lofts for upperdivision students. Each of the themed
floors is equipped with technology and
resources to further integrate student
life and entrepreneurial learning and
making. The garage portion of the
facility is equipped with open collaboration spaces and cutting-edge production and presentation technology.
Everything in the building is designed
to make innovation a 24/7 endeavor.
Students have access to tools that can
help them build prototypes or host
presentations, leading to new product
design or even company launches. In
fact, 114 new venture startups were
born out of the facility in 2016. "This
building is as innovative and entrepreneurial as the activities inside," notes

PHOtO COuRtesy OF PlyMOutH state uniVeRsity

Troy D'Ambrosio, executive director of
the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute.
"Students are able to choose what type
of residence they want and what type
of creative space they prefer."
Provided with the benefits of accessible and inclusive residential spaces
for collaboration and culture, purposeful organization, and designing for
connectivity, students can engage
with peers and develop synergy with
the larger campus population - all key
steps in enriching the student experience and maintaining retention. Since
Lassonde opened in the fall of 2016,
the number of launched businesses
and student scholarships has increased
and student engagement has more
than doubled.

Student Engagement
Student Program ParticiPation & LeaderShiP
2002-2017
6K
4.7K

2017

2016

1.5K

2015

2014

2006

2013

2005

2012

2004

talking stiCk

1.4K 1.1K 1.4K 1.4K

2011

16
2010

905 838

2009

886

2008

878

2007

2003

2002

PHOtO COuRtesy OF WORCesteR POlyteCHniC institute

East Hall of Worcester Polytechnic
Institute (WPI) in Massachusetts was
designed to focus on upper-division
students and to provide tools that
assist with higher-level coursework.
Floors two through five of the 230-bed
facility accommodate various residential unit types, including eight studio
apartments for resident assistants and
students requiring individual living arrangements. Due to a large population
of engineering students, technology
suites are available on each floor, complete with AV/IT capabilities, plug-andplay laptops, group study tables, and
flat screens. Philip Clay, vice president
for student affairs, believes that the design of the hall, open nearly a decade,
has continued to support academic
growth and engagement on campus.
"East Hall has created opportunities
for faculty and students to study the
benefits of sustainable design and
concretely measure the environmental
impact of the residence hall in features
such as the green roof and storm
water monitoring system. We have had
several student academic projects that
have used East features as a basis for
their research." Clay specifically notes
that the technology suites are constantly used by students and have been
so successful that they have become
part of WPI's campus standard for
residence hall design. In fact, both of
the new residence halls that have been
constructed since East Hall contain
technology suites.

Talking Stick - July/August 2017

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