Thursday, 10 April 2008

Happy Birthday IC

The Information Commons opened exactly a year ago today, so it was only right that we celebrated with cake, balloons, and goodie bags for the first 100 students that came in. There's even ice cream for sale on the entrance area. It's been a huge success - some would say a victim of its own success as students would rather study there than in other spaces so it's remarkably busy most of the time - and we're really pleased at the good feedback we've had. It's even been shortlisted for a RIBA award - keep your fingers crossed for us.

Since its launch, the IC has gone from strength to strength, introducing several new initiatives during its first year of operation. In May a multi-faith prayer and meditation room was opened. Shortly afterwards a silent PC study space was introduced on Level 5 to complement the successful silent spaces already in operation on levels 2 and 3. During last summer a number of new facilities were introduced: a web-based room and PC booking system allowing students to book 100 of the PCs in the IC as well as 9 of the group study rooms; the flexispace area on level 4 was fitted out with 2 copy-cams and a huge plasma screen all of which are available 24 hours a day without the need to book in advance; hi-tech Sympodium technology was installed in the 2 classrooms on Level 3 and 4 which allow teaching staff to interact with their students in increasingly flexible and innovative ways.

So - Happy Birthday IC - here's to many more.

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