Re: wcenter designs

[jwerchan@osulima2.lima.ohio-state.edu (James E. Werchan)]

>"Open atmospheres', I think, can be fostered also by plants, stuffed
critters, posters, >color, and most of all, welcoming staff.

hi folks,
esp. Steve and Katie,

I've been doing physical layout planning for a little WC myself.   It's a
tiny space, about 10 by 20 feet, and I've been tinkering with a big pad of
graph paper and a tape measure and visualizing traffic flow.   Among the
furniture I've managed to glom (that's the old non-documentable inventory
shift) is a couch.  I've tried to make it visible from the hallway.  

Also, I'm lucky to have a window in the room ( a rarity in this big ugly
1970 building ).  So I wanted to admit sunlight as well, but not in such a
way that it makes monitors hard to read.  Most of the room is:  couch on one
side, with an end table and a floor lamp, next to a short bookshelf with a
coffeemaker on top.  And on one end is an area that is a bit shut off from
the main area.  I'm using a tall bookshelf to form a partial room divider.
In the small area, sort of shut off from the main area, is a large desk and
a computer table.  

I figure this:  in such a small area (or the previous room, which was barely
80 square feet) , if I am hovering around watching how tutors tute, then my
presence would be a considerable intrusion on the peer-to-peer consultation.
If i hang out back there, ostensibly computing or reading or doing paper
work, I can still listen quite well and catch an inconspicuous glance on
proceedings, and thereby unobtrusively monitor quality control.  

there's my plan:  couch visible from the hall; coffee smellable from the
hall; nice bit of natural light that does not mess with monitors; and my own
little nook to retreat to.

I'd like to deep six the garish fluorescent lights and use directional
incandescent lights for reading/writing areas, but this may be hard as this
building is one of those that does not have individual light switches in the
rooms; maintenance folks just turn on the building light.

later,
james werchan
osu lima







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| Dr. James Werchan    |                                     |
| Ohio St. U. at Lima  |      Department of Blind Hogs       |
| 4240 Campus Drive    |          Finding Acorns             |
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