Smith College repurposed 6,000 square feet in the campus’s former Young Library to create a learning space to help neurodiverse learners flourish. Recognizing the need to provide an environment to address the unique needs of students who learn differently and often struggle with sensory distractions, the college collaborated with the design team to develop a flexible, flat-floor classroom for 75 students.

The project built upon previous research and faculty workshops at Smith College focused on developing academic environments to support neurodiversity. It was refined through extensive stakeholder engagement with committees and student groups. 

The large classroom is organized around a central large room with an array of technology and writing surfaces on all sides.

Central to the support for neurodiverse learners, the design team provided spaces within the larger space that could best fit differing learning styles and preferences. Introducing the agency of choice and mitigating common distractions such as reflectivity, bold colors, strong pattern contrast, and noisy crowds became crucial design drivers. 

The space is set up to offer choice and variety, a concept designers call Fixed Variation.

The classroom is articulated with smaller learning rooms of various sizes and furnishings. Unlike breakout rooms, these spaces are intended to be used simultaneously with the large collaborative space, supported by AV technology to allow for display of content and user participation. Instead of a single, highly flexible space that could be endlessly re-configured with mobile furniture, the space is set up to offer choice and variety, yet with predictable furniture placement that indicates purpose – a concept designers call fixed variation.

This smaller space is intended to be used simultaneously with the large collaborative space, supported by AV technology to allow for display of content and user participation.

Acoustics and healthy materials were a priority. Noise is commonly a prominent distraction for neurodiverse learners, so great attention was taken to mask HVAC noise and promote speech clarity. A folded ceiling surface made from acoustic panels absorbs sound while simultaneously diffusing light to control unwanted glare. Additional acoustic surfaces are dispersed across walls throughout the space while providing a subtle highlight of color.

A folded ceiling surface made from acoustic panels absorbs sound while simultaneously diffusing light to control unwanted glare.

All interior finishes and furnishings were selected to meet rigorous wellness and transparency standards. Furniture also supports user preference and accommodates a range of body shapes and abilities.

Smith College has taken an important step to ensure learning spaces are designed to help all students thrive.

Project Team: Keiter Corporation; CSL Consulting; BVH / Salas O’Brien; Interscape Commercial Environments, MDC Interior Solutions; Robert Benson Photography

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