SMARTdesks collaborates to revitalize Gallaudet University's Harkin Computer Lab
New Design and Synergistic Collaboration Revitalize Gallaudet University’s Harkin Computer Lab
At Gallaudet University, the on-campus Harkin Computer Lab meets the varied academic and resource needs of its student body every day.
To upgrade the existing computer lab and maximize learning
potential, SMARTdesks recently designed and implemented a
comprehensive new space for this prestigious, Washington D.C.
University.
Federally chartered in 1864 under the Lincoln administration,
Gallaudet University’s longstanding mission is to provide the
intellectual and professional advancement of deaf and hard of
hearing individuals through American Sign Language and English.
Its programs and teaching methods prepare Gallaudet students to
succeed in a highly competitive, technological and changing world.
Upgrades to the Harkin Computer Lab fit with the university
mission with the overarching goal to “future-proof” the facility
through furniture design that offers flexibility to accommodate everchanging technologies.
A Need for Change
The Technology Services Team at Gallaudet visited the nearby
company showroom in Linthicum, MD, and started a collaborative
dialogue with company president Jeffrey Korber, in order to
determine which furniture offered the communication tools and
learning platforms the school sought.
At the meeting, the Gallaudet faculty and IT specialists employed
an interpreter who used American Sign Language in conjunction
with a conference room phone and a computer station webcam.
All of these technology supports were already readily available for
use in the Piano™ conference table at the showroom. Additionally,
the arrangement of the table and the space made it easier for the
hearing and deaf participants to converse. Because of the low profile
monitor placement in the table, meeting
participants could easily Federally chartered in 1864 under the Lincoln administration,
Gallaudet University’s longstanding mission is to provide the
intellectual and professional advancement of deaf and hard of
hearing individuals through American Sign Language and English.
Its programs and teaching methods prepare Gallaudet students to
succeed in a highly competitive, technological and changing world.
Upgrades to the Harkin Computer Lab fit with the university
mission with the overarching goal to “future-proof” the facility
through furniture design that offers flexibility to accommodate everchanging technologies.
The Design Team was invited to the Harkin Computer Lab to
see the space and to further understand the students’ and educators’
needs. While Gallaudet educators had resourcefully optimized their
space, it became evident that the design was dated and not operating
to full potential. Converted rectangular tables were arranged in long
rows, creating a congested feel. Cramped study carrels were too small
for two people to share the space to converse with others online
using sign language.
Collaborating on the Cloud: Gallaudet Creates a New Space
After assessing the necessary ergonomic and spatial updates Harkin
Computer Lab needed, the Design Team began its daily practice
of design collaboration. As a virtual office company, design
team members are geographically distributed across the United
States, and professional interior designers, engineers, and factory
production managers routinely communicate using the Design
Cloud. Via this platform, company members and the customer
can communicate and share ideas, floor plans, and files in one
convenient location.
Gallaudet University and company project managers easily
uploaded and shared documents, drawings and support information,
organized in one location, including time stamps on every upload.
This made working with the members of Gallaudet a smooth
experience for both company and client because much of the projectbased communication was written and expressed graphically. Design
Cloud allowed the Gallaudet team to communicate internally with
constructive input from the company, which ultimately led to the
final consensus-built design. In production, Design Cloud helped
managers keep the process on track for completion within the
expected schedule.
The accepted design opens up the main space for the Harkin Digital Commons. Instead of linear rows of computers, triangular Collab® Computer Conference Tables provide a more conducive workflow. With their equilateral design, the aisleways created by the shapes offer mobility and easier access to computers. The broad aisles conform to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations for access everywhere in the space. When communicating in small groups, students can select a corner of the table to congregate around and spin an iMac into position to share the centrally located webcam.
Additionally, small study carrels are no
longer necessary for one-on-one interaction
through webcams; the lines of the table offer
personal computer space when preferred.
The larger aisleways provide enough physical
space to enable signing communication to take
place without the visual noise characteristic
of the old linear table arrangement. Each
webcam is positioned to focus on the main
user; users at other computer stations face
the opposite direction and their signing is
blocked from sight, which offers a focused
learning environment. With open space,
flexible group arrangement, and one-to-one
privacy, the new computer lab was a success.
Comprehensive Wire Management
Cable management presented a significant
challenge for Gallaudet’s team. The
University had retrofitted a raised access floor
so power and data could be routed under the
floor, but this did not address the unwieldy
snarl of cables that spilled from the back
of each table. To remedy this, the Collab®
table design offered a large 18 inch diameter
center column for routing power and data
cables from the floor to the technology in the
table. A large hatch on the column provided
ready IT access and routed power and data
from the access floor to the base of the table.
The visual clutter vanished.
Next came the challenge of power/data
connector boxes for their furniture. The
existing connector boxes opened to a small
trough without sufficient room to plug in
laptop power transformers, and the Gallaudet
technology team wanted receptacles accessible
from the top, but presented in an unobtrusive
way. The company and Gallaudet designed a
fixed, decorative cap where simple power/data
boxes could be mounted. The connection boxes
the company offers and Gallaudet selected are
usually mounted under the table, but after conferring on design, both parties agreed that
mounting them in a central position behind the
iMac® screens would be visually quieter. The
company designed this modification especially
for Gallaudet.
Ergonomic Furniture Completes the Lab
With all of the triangular tables in the room, Gallaudet still needed some rectangular tables with built-in wire management. A line of Nesta™ tables was placed in front of the Harkin’s glass wall. This placement opens the room and gives easy access to the iMac® computer stations. The lighting from the windows sets up an aesthetic backdrop for the built-in web cams. Because studies have shown that people perform better and experience increased focus when standing, students work at these stations while on foot. Those who wish to sit may do so at the Collab® tables. Because churn rate is high in this area, the idea of standing for a short, focused time is a practical way of giving greater access to more students.
At the ends of this arrangement are Cirrus™
Series motorized adjustable height tables.
These tables quickly adjust with a touch of a
button and accommodate a variety of users and
working styles, including people in wheelchairs.
Cirrus™ adjustable height tables are available
with ratchet adjustment, spring pin and floating counterbalance. Gallaudet selected the
motorized version. It is not only adjustable
with the press of a button, but heights can also
be stored in memory to accommodate those
who return on a routine basis.
Teleconferencing for the 21st century
Harkin’s teleconferencing suite also needed
a complete redesign. The walls featured large
whiteboards, a large video display and a single
camera. A cluttered U-shaped arrangement
of rectangular tables made communication
difficult and it was difficult for all participants
to see and be seen. The new table design, the
Piano™ 5 Computer Conference Table, offered
a wire management solution, a collaborative
shape for telepresence, and a secure place to
store laptops when not in use.
The Piano’s unique geometry and scale
worked well for the unusually shaped room.
Six flipIT Laptop Safes® were added to store
the laptops securely when they were out of use.
Gallaudet’s MacBooks securely stow under
the flipIT’s locking lid. The laptops remain
connected to power and data while in use or
when stowed. The profile of the lid is lower
than the laptop screen, so participants can
communicate without visual obstruction. The
Piano’s hinged lid and technology well neatly
hide wires and small components. The result:
a clean looking studio set that frames people’s
faces for visual interaction in the room and on
camera.
The Harkin Digital Commons Learning
Center has proved a resounding success for the
students and faculty. Due to the upgrades to
the facility, the room is always near capacity
with negligible down time. The excellent
design reflects a synergistic collaboration with
the Design Team and Gallaudet University’s
commitment to create the foremost learning
environment for people who are deaf or hard
of hearing.
Piano Conference Tables
Piano is the signature SMARTdesks table. With configurations for five people and up, the Piano is sure to increase harmonious interaction between teams.
Nesta Flip Top Tables
Nesta Tables are easy to move and store. Tops flip up and tables store flush with one another. Available in three finish types, countless colors, with and without modesty panel, and a variety of optional power and data modules.
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