Eastern Iowa Community College includes three community colleges stretched along the Mississippi River in the state of Iowa.
The administrative offices for Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC), a network of higher learning education centers including Clinton, Scott and Muscatine Community Colleges, had been operating out of different locations for more than 30 years. In that time, the landscape had transformed into an uninspiring collection of mismatched workspaces and cluttered filing cabinets. In an effort to bring operations under one roof and be able to offer a full range of educational opportunities for its students, EICC transformed two former bank buildings in the downtown area into a vibrant center for learning.
When the duo of historic buildings in downtown Davenport became available, EICC jumped at the opportunity. The new space allowed them to combine an old administration building with a bank via a third connecting building. In doing so, the new Davenport Urban Campus grew up among the bustle of shops and bars that had taken root downtown.
Over the last 30 years, the previous building had become a maze of randomly sized and shaped cubicles and dozens of filing cabinets. The new 92,000 sq. ft. location was a blank slate. Storage for each department was moved to the basement of the building to maximize space on the main floors, while cohesive desking systems shifted the overall culture towards more collaboration. The privacy panels around the administrative team were lowered and glass stackers were installed to allow a more welcoming and open aesthetic while addressing staff's need for privacy and noise reduction.
Taking into consideration the ways in which education is changing, seating for solo and collaborative work now dot the floor plan, and both faculty and students can be found occupying these areas throughout the day. In particular, serpentine shaped seating allows for more seating than traditional benches while students wait for classes to begin; privacy booths that are encircled by acoustic-dampening panels provide a space for one or more students to meet and work.
While the previous location was laid out in a way that separated individuals for independent work, the new Urban Campus provides opportunities for collaboration and spontaneous interactions. Staff have been invigorated by the natural synergy of the space.
Since opening, the EICC Urban Campus has seen an increase in enrollment and the addition of programs aimed at helping students in their future careers, including science, nursing, and virtual reality programs that rely on updated technology and learning methods. Today, the Urban Campus is an example of the ways in which community colleges continue to provide important services to their neighborhoods, inspiring the next generation of professionals.
Project Details
Urban Campus
Davenport, IA
90,000 sq. ft.
Capacity for 1,500 Students
Partnerships
Paragon Commercial Interiors
Thalden-Boyd-Emery Architects
Product Solutions
Seating
Clarity®, Inspire®, Lyric™, Parallel™, Retreat™, Reflect®, Scooch™
Workspaces
Terrace®
Tables
Aware®, Transfer™
Storage
Essentials™