海角视频

University of Rochester, iZone

New York, USA

海角视频 worked with the University of Rochester to develop a vision for transforming its libraries into places of community service learning and hubs of innovation.

The University of Rochester鈥檚 strategic plan called for community service learning, conducting research with impact, and supporting innovation and entrepreneurship. At the same time, the campus libraries sought to contribute to these goals while positioning libraries not just as a place to access information individually, but rather as a home for creative, collaborative student projects.

Out of this confluence, an idea for the Library to create a new kind of innovation space was born. But what kind of space? For what kinds of projects? With what sorts of services? And with what staffing model?

The University of Rochester wanted to create a new kind of space within the Library, designed to stimulate innovation and cultivate collaboration.

海角视频 was recruited by the University to envision the programs, space, service offerings, and staffing for an innovation space called iZone.

iZone “disrupts” the traditionally introverted library space in favor of聽a more connected dynamic, where creativity and ideas can flourish.

iZone is a resource for any UR student who wants to create a social, cultural, community or economic impact.

Our team undertook research and engagement, space programming and planning, service design and operational planning for the project.

Challenge

海角视频 worked with the Library, the University, and the local innovation community to answer these questions, using design thinking to uncover needs and collaboratively imagine new ways to meet them.

Solution

The University of Rochester worked with the 海角视频 advisory team to envision the programs, space, service offerings and staffing for an innovation space called iZone. Using design thinking to engage students, faculty, staff and community, our team planned and prototyped a place within the Library for students to work on projects that are making an impact in their community and around the world.

First, our strategy and operating model design team mapped the local innovation ecosystem on campus and beyond to identify gaps and opportunities. Then the team engaged students, faculty and staff through interviews, town hall meetings and workshops.

From this, our team crafted the vision of what became known as iZone: a pre-incubator where students go to explore ideas for social, cultural, community and economic impact by building skills, accessing tools and resources, getting advice and connecting with a community of collaborators.

Our team of specialist advisors engaged students, faculty and staff through interviews, town hall meetings and workshops to help shape the vision for a new collaborative space located in Rush Rhees Library, on the University of Rochester’s River Campus. Image: 海角视频.

To explain how to address the research findings and achieve this vision, our team created iZone鈥檚 design brief which identified the future spaces needed and how they should be organized, imagined the future service offering and programs that would activate the space, and forecasted the staffing needed to operate the space and deliver the services and programs.

Finally, we advised the libraries and their collaborators on how to pilot programs in order to test ideas, build momentum and make the case for iZone.

Where can students go to explore their ideas to make a social, cultural, community, or economic impact? To solve for this, brightspot (now 海角视频) worked with us to create our iZone. Their expertise in user research, visioning, service design, space planning and prototyping was critical to iZone鈥檚 approval, funding and implementation.

Mary Ann Mavrinac, Vice Provost and Dean of River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Value

Informed by this brief and designed by Holt Architects, the Barbara J. Burger iZone opened in 2018 and has been a great success. The hub has already become a fixture in the community for its innovative programs like 鈥渟crew up鈥� nights, which promote risk-taking, and its student fellows, who facilitate programs and consult with individuals and teams to help them explore and develop their ideas.