Introduction

Presents an overview of the goals of this webtext. More

History

Tells the history of the Noel Studio for Academic Creativity. More

Spaces

Shows how the space is being used by faculty and students. More

Flexibility

Discusses the importance of furniture and technology. More

Students

Offers video interviews of people who use the Noel Studio. More

Conclusion

Summarizes the main arguments made in this webtext. More

History

The Noel Studio’s history is as creative and collaborative as the space has become. The concept, which began as a vision inspired by cross-campus conversations, gained momentum through a 2004 proposal for a “Writing Studio.” The Studio Task Force continued to develop the concept of a facility that would integrate with departments on a global scale to facilitate workshops, in-class peer reviews, and ongoing programs for the university community. The choice of program name came in 2004, as “Studio for Academic Creativity” communicates the integrated philosophy and value of creativity within the program’s pedagogy.

As Doorley and Witthoft (2012) explain, “Creative people regularly generate surprising ideas and unanticipated artifacts” (76). Bringing multiple voices, perspectives, disciplinary backgrounds, and pedagogical philosophies together for conversations about the design of a collaborative space, in this case, yielded concepts that an individual working alone might not have realized. Appropriately, some of the most innovative academic spaces in the United States have developed from innovative, dynamic collaborations, also part of their pedagogical approach. For example, the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (better known as the d.school) integrates voices from across disciplinary boundaries through its radical collaborations between students, faculty, and industry. A program’s evolution can also reveal much about its future.

As the Noel Studio’s history suggests, bringing multiple voices together for sustained conversations about pedagogy, space design, and communication design can yield exciting results. For the Noel Studio, placing writing in conversation with communication and information literacy disciplines suggested that we might also explore how these areas interact, intersect, complement, and extend one another. While writing centers and library collaborations are not necessarily new, integrating communication-related initiatives that enhance public speaking, video production, and visual interests allows us to see that the composing that students do in multimodal spaces is quite connected. Moreover, we begin to see how, through a creative lens, an integrated approach can enhance the composing experiences of students. Furthermore, in the collaborative spirit with which the Noel Studio was envisioned, students are encouraged to play with technologies, artifacts, and manipulatives in ways that further the invention and composing process. Boczkowski, Randall, Render, and Sinovic (2008) argued that a writing center, where experimentation can take place absent of grades, “offers the ideal site and optimal methods for students to learn the value of play” (264). As a creative space, the Noel Studio was envisioned as an optimal learning environment where students (at times side-by-side with faculty) experiment with composition concepts and strategies in mind.

Timeline for the Design of a Creative Space

2004

  • The task force presented the studio concept to the EKU president, who then granted support.
  • The task force began working with the VP of University Development to seek funding for renovation of the space.

2005

  • The task force continued to refine the studio for Academic Creativity concept.
  • With support garnered from departments, the libraries, and administration, the task force began to develop preliminary architectural renderings.

2006

The studio became affiliated with the University’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), which is part of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) accreditation process.

 


Time lapse video of Noel Studio construction
Video created by Cindi Trainor

2007

The planning process continued to progress and the planning team developed with changes to university leadership.

2008

  • EKU alumni Ron and Sherrie Lou Noel provided the initial donation for the construction of the Noel Studio—with the stipulation that the process begin as soon as possible.
  • An architectural firm created the final construction drawings.
  • The planning team met frequently to discuss architectural and programmatic issues.

2009

  • Construction began on the unique 10,000-square-foot space in the heart of EKU’s Crabbe Library.
  • The Noel Studio opened to the university community in September 2010 with a consultant staff of forty.  
  • Noel Studio staff members began offering consultations, workshops, and facilitated peer-review sessions on subjects ranging from integrating creativity into the classroom to writing for the Web and conducting academic research.

We have archived the construction process and a detailed history of the Noel Studio. Construction lasted approximately one year and is detailed through the Noel Studio construction blog. The Noel Studio website also features a detailed history of the space and program.



Continue reading: "Use of the Space"