Northampton Community College Richardson Hall – Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology Renovations

MKSD was selected by Northampton Community College to renovate the IT Department located in Richardson Hall, and create new homes for the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology (CTLT) on the Bethlehem and Monroe campuses. While these two programs are distinct, MKSD’s design approach and collaboration with the end-users was the same for both.

The IT Department had been operating in a maze of small offices and disjointed corridors with little access to natural light. MKSD worked with the IT staff to develop a plan that balances privacy and openness, maximizes the exposure to natural light, and supports its collaborative mission. All-glass partitions open sightlines and maximize natural light, while dark finishes and individually operable lights allow employees who prefer to work in the dark to control brightness levels.

The CTLT serves as a dedicated faculty “sandbox” to generate excitement and energy around the development of new pedagogy. The CTLT is a campus destination offering a demonstration classroom, small group workspace, a video booth, and a lounge space for personal one-on-one connections. The furniture was a key component to the design, with selections that are functional, flexible, and comfortable.