A Building Designed as a Catalyst for Project-Based Learning: A Case Study in America

Higher education must adapt to a rapidly changing landscape of industries and knowledge. A university developing a new campus aims to transform education by designing its first academic building to promote active collaboration, project-based learning (PBL), and industry-relevant experiences, focusing on a student-centric approach. A well-designed facility is seen as crucial for success. The Active Learning Classroom has shown to positively impact students' perceptions of an inspiring environment, enhancing participation and idea generation (Park & Choi, 2014). PBL effectively connects academic knowledge with workplace experience (Guo et al., 2020). A case study assessed the building's design for PBL during its first operational year. Findings evaluated the design's effectiveness and identified necessary changes. Both qualitative and quantitative data revealed limited use of collaborative spaces and technologies, as well as insufficient PBL integration in the curriculum. Recommendations include aligning faculty practices with program goals and engaging students more with available educational technologies in the learning spaces, both inside and outside the classroom.