Today’s Affordances of Campus Spaces from the 1960s and 70s: Investigated with Participant-Generated Photography

Since the end of the 20th century, colleges have competed globally, using contemporary campus buildings such as dormitories, student unions, and fitness centers to attract and retain students. However, large portions of college campuses were developed before the ongoing diversification of student demographics and the emergence of student-centered pedagogical theories and teaching practices, which altered needs for campus spaces. This article explores the lived experiences and perceptions of diverse members of a college community regarding six historic sites on a public university campus in the Midwestern United States. A team of interdisciplinary researchers relied on participant-generated photographs, collected during group site visits, and photo-based transformative focus group discussions with 30 participants representing four generations and a wide range of campus roles. Participants discussed campus features that enhanced or hindered their experiences. The researchers’ analysis of 67 participant-created photographs and narrative captions was guided by Affordance Theory. Findings revealed accessibility barriers and maintenance issues in outdoor spaces while highlighting the value of green spaces, comfortable seating, and informal learning environments in fostering positive and intergenerational interactions. Recommendations for future campus master plans include prioritizing accessibility across campus areas and embracing age- and gender-inclusivity and family-friendliness as guiding principles for campus development.