Place Preferences on Campus: Building Community Through Design
Lisa K. Waxman, Ph.D. Florida State University
My Interests Place Making How Place Contributes to Community Design Attributes that Foster Place & Community
This Presentation Theories Related to Place Third Places Research Related to Place Design Considerations
– Social Considerations – Design Considerations
The College Campus
Very much about place- physical and social – Place Attachment The bonding of people to place
– Transformative Time – Memory Making
Factors Impacting The College Experience – High quality teaching – Services (library & computer labs) – Relationships-Impact Loyalty
St. John, New Brunswick, Canada
Building Community & Social Capital Simply stated, ”social networks have value” “The connections among individuals—social networks and the norms of reciprocity and trustworthiness that arise from them” (Putnam, 2000)
Designing for Community Jane Jacobs in The Death and Life of Great
American Cities
“When cities are configured to maximize informal contacts among neighbors, the streets are safer, children are better taken car of, and people are happier with their surroundings.” Universities are essentially small cities
Crisis in Community on Campuses?
Rising Crime Rates Sexual Harassment Ethnic and Racial Hostilities Property Damage
Substance Abuse Apathy Decline in Civility (Carnegie Foundation)
Bring Students Together
“Colleges need to revitalize their learning community, bringing persons of all kinds together more often…and increase learning outside the classroom.” (Oldenburg, 1997)
Designing for Community? Friendship Formation Group Membership
Proximity is Key! – Designers impact community
Learning Contexts
1. Classroom- often gets attention 2. Private Reflection 3. Places for Conversation –often overlooked
Conversation ď Ž
Most colleges neglect to plan adequately for informal discussions, or hangouts, or gathering places on campus (Oldenburg, 1997)
Creating Hangouts ď Ž
Leaders in Higher Ed should include spaces that provide opportunities for talk among students—places for them to hang out.
Third Places The Third place is a “setting beyond home and work …a place in which people relax in good company and do so on a regular basis.”
Third Places
Our First Place: Home Our Second Place: Work Our Third Place – In the intervals before, between, and after their mandatory appearances elsewhere
On Neutral Ground
Must be neutral ground to come together May easily join & depart one another’s company No one is required to play host
Photo: Borders, Tallahassee, FL
The Third Place as a Leveler ď Ž ď Ž
An inclusive place Settings where everyone is accepted as an equal
Conversation is the Main Activity
Photo: Black Dog Community Coffee House, Tallahassee, FL
The talk is good The music is not so loud that you can’t hear conversation
Accessibility and Accommodations
Keep long hours You may go there alone and feel certain acquaintances will be there Location is convenient
The Regulars
The “regulars” give the place character Set the tone of conviviality
Third Place for Anubhuti Bhatia, India
Low Profile Usually not advertised Not elegant May not impress the uninitiated Usually not constructed as such
Photo: Black Dog Community Coffee House, Tallahassee, FL
The Mood is Playful
Photo: Black Dog Community Coffee House, Tallahassee, FL
Joy and acceptance reign over anxiety and alienation Urge to return, to recreate, and recapture the experience
Home Away from Home
Homelike May even compete with home Sometimes even more homelike than home Home “roots” us, but so may the third place Photo: Carla Reid, Owner, Black Dog Community Coffee House
Related Research
Research Questions Where do college students prefer to spend their free time and what design features enhance these place experiences and encourage opportunities for connection to community? – – – –
Where do college students gather (other than class, work and home) and develop informal social contacts? Where are the opportunities for friendship formation? What causes students to development feelings of connection and attachment to a place? How can the built environment support opportunities for connecting?
Findings- Top 12 Choices
Beach/Lake Gym Coffee Shop Restaurant Greek House Bar Mall/Retail Space Park/Gardens Religious Place Car Pool Other
23% 14% 13% 8% 7% 6% 6% 5% 4% 3% 3% 6%
*Study took place in Florida
n=362
Primary Reasons for Going
Socialize Relax/Rejuvenate Enjoy Food & Drink Escape/Time Alone Study/Read Exercise Other
36% 29% 15% 8% 6% 3% 3%
On Campus vs. Off Campus 84% - Off Campus ď Ž 16% - On Campus ď Ž
(Similar to findings by Waxman, Clemons, Banning, and McKelfresh which showed 80% of Colorado State students found third places off-campus) Providence College
Frequency of Visit Every Day More Than 1X Per Week Once Per Week
Total Visiting at Least Once Per Week
24% 23% 23%
70%
Inside vs. Outside Outdoor Inside
31% 69%
Social and Physical Factors
Opportunity to Linger Opportunity to linger is key to success of many places “Campers�
Ownership
“We always play pool in the back corner, which has a half wall partition from the rest of the pool tables. I guess that space has become our territory whenever we’re there.”
Territoriality ď Ž
Establishing a Territory
Sociability ď Ž
Socialized with both old and new friends.
University of Queensland, Australia
Regulars Our Place‌the ability to see the same people
Alone or in Groups
OK to go alone
– Surrounded by peers – People watch
Yet, also works for groups – Structured or Unstructured
"You can openly converse with someone or you can keep to yourself with no pressure to talk to anyone" “Even if I go alone, I never feel alone once I get there”
Familiar Strangers Familiar strangers, those people who they see regularly, but only know by face. ď Ž Feelings of mutual knowing ď Ž
Feelings of Connectedness Among Familiar Strangers “I usually come alone; I will visit with the staff for a little while, so I don’t really feel alone once I get here. I socialize some and that makes the place special: I live alone and I always see someone here…” “Sadly, I tent not to be very “It’s the whole idea that I’ve left social [but] I enjoy seeing the my apartment and come to a new same people every day” place that refreshes me.”
Feeling Productive “I usually regroup, you know, get my to-do list cleared. I use this space sort of as a transition space; Like, I’m about to really start on my homework now…I can go here, hang out for a while, make my little list, my plan of attack and then chill out before I get going” “This place brings out the best in me.”
University of Saskatchewan
Need Relax and Rejuvenate Over one-third of entering college students reported feeling frequently overwhelmed. (Keup & Stolzenberg, 2004)
The American College Health Association (2005) reports the greatest impediment to academic performance was reported by the students to be stress.
Students appear to be looking for a place to find relaxation and restoration, which often includes people watching, meeting with friends and finding quiet time.
Trust, Respect, & Support “The place supports my needs” “It’s all about trust- you have to know that they care about you and that it is a safe place”
Community “It is definitely a community- it is very much like a home” “I feel very connected to this place”
Ohio State Library
“Civilized communities are places to be longed for and to come home to. In civilized communities, every person assumes part of the responsibility for life there” (Stumpf, 1998)
Design Guidelines for Student Hangouts
Provide Seats That Provide Prospect & Refuge Variety of seating typeslight enough to move Square Tables encourage grouping
Design Guidelines cont‌ ď Ž
Background Music that allows conversation
Design Guidelines cont…
View to Outside View to other areas of space to allow people watching View of entry to see who comes in
Design Guidelines cont…
Warm Colors Schemes Outside Seating too Good Light for Reading Wireless Internet
Design Guidelines- Favorite Seats
Near Windows
“Sheltered by” or “Anchored to” an Architectural Feature – Providing protection
Often Maximizes View of Space and People
Comfortable Seating Preferred
Overview Students need places to socialize and enjoy the company of other students. They need places where they be surrounded by others, even if they do not verbally interact They also need places to relax and restore their energy and be rejuvenated.
Thoughtful design, that enhances our attachment to places and community, must include provisions for connecting with people.
“Place root us—to the earth, to our history and memories, to our families and larger community” (Cooper-Marcus)
…and Places root us to the university