UCSB MODEL CLASSROOM
Small to Medium-Sized Classrooms
Capacity: 21-49
With flexible seating, these classrooms are designed for
both lecture and class discussion.
(Draft 1.1 - July 29, 2008)
Physical features:
1. Room Shape - Square to slightly rectangular (1:1 to 1:1.2). Flat floor. (Add suggested floorplans and room layouts. Perhaps link to top architect's or other university's best examples. Link to UCOP standards regarding square footage.)
2. Ceiling Height and Type - A T-bar lay-in ceiling is preferred for wiring access and ease of future upgrades. A pocket for two recessed 8 ft. wide projection screens shall be incorporated into the ceiling at the front of the room. Ceiling height should be 10 ft. (9 ft. minimum).
3. Entrance - The door should be located on the side wall toward the front of the classroom in order to maximize the entrance corridor to the seats. The door should open into the classroom off of an interior hallway in order to minimize external noise when the windows are open for ventilation. A small window shall be installed in the door.4. Windows - Natural light is desirable for all Classrooms having flat floors and a seating capacity of 72 or less. Windows should be located on a side wall and never on a front wall. All windows require shades for light control. (Add link to campus standards or options.)
5. Lighting - Three zones of fluorescent lighting are required: two for the projection screen and chalk board areas and the third for the student area. The lighting over the student area should be dimmable for note-taking. A 50-60 foot-candle level at the desktop is desirable. Note-taking level of 20-30 foot-candles is desirable. Controls should be located at the entrance to the room as well as on or near the permanently installed lectern. (UCLA: The Lutron Radiotouch package with the UCLA wall controller is the preferred system. Controllers are located at the doors. The fixtures employ 3” deep paracube diffusers to reduce spill on the walls and screen.)
6. Visuals and Viewing Angles - The projection screen and blackboard should be positioned for simultaneous use. Viewing angle from any seat to the most distant edge of a writing surface or projection screen shall not exceed 60 degrees (?).
7. Acoustics and Ambient Noise - Rooms of this size generally do not require acoustic treatment. Background sound levels of 30 dB or less (A weighted) for unoccupied classrooms ensure the SNR needed for effective learning.8. Floors/Carpeting - Flat floor. Carpeting should be avoided in General Assignment Classrooms.
9. AC Outlets/Signal Conduits - AC outlets shall be located on the front and rear walls and spaced at 8 ft. intervals. Power shall also be provided to the lectern (or media cabinet) and data projector. If a wall-mounted media cabinet is installed, an outlet should be positioned directly beneath it. Two 1.5 inch conduits should be run between the lectern (or media cabinet) and an area above the ceiling. A single 1" conduit should be run from the nearest Communications Closet to an area above the ceiling near the two 1.5" conduits.
10. HVAC - Air handling equipment should be located outside of the classroom space to minimize noise. (Add specs on air conditioning, min and max temperatures, ceiling fans, etc.)
Furnishings:
1. Writing Surfaces - Chalk boards are recommended for all General Assignment Classrooms. White Boards may be installed if desired by highest use faculty only.
2. Seating - Moveable tablet-arm chairs are preferred in order to maintain instructional flexibility. Tables and chairs are acceptable under special circumstances. If tablet-arm chairs are used, at least 10% should be left-handed and 5% should be ADA accessible. An ADA wheelchair path and seating location must be provided. Recommended seating arrangements: 20 (5 wide by 4 deep), 25 (5 wide by 5 deep), 30 (6 wide by 5 deep), 36 (6 wide by 6 deep), 42 (7 wide by 6 deep), 49 (7 wide by 7 deep). Actual capacity may be less in order to accomodate wheelchairs. (Add link to approved or recommended furniture.)
3. Screens - Two manually operated 8 ft. wide screens should be mounted in a pocket above the ceiling level on the front wall above the writing surface.
4. Table, Chair, and Lectern - An instructor's table, chair, and table-top lectern should be provided.
5. Chair Rails - shall be installed on all three sides of the student seating area. (See Girvetz example using a formica surface with oak frame.)
Instructional Technology:
1. Projector - An XSGA projector with a minimum 3000 lumen output should be installed so that it projects on the screen farthest away from the lectern thus allowing the simultaneous use of the board area nearest the instructor.
2. Laptop Lectern - A standardized lectern with a media control system and VOIP intercom should be permanently installed near the wall opposite the front entrance to the classroom. In the event the classroom is too small to accomodate the Lectern, a Media Cabinet should be installed instead. Laptop Lecterns (without installed computers) are to be standard in all but staffed lecture halls and auditoriums. All operator controls are to be placed within the ADA wheelchair reach profile. (Link to campus standard)
3. Media Equipment - The media sources (DVD,VHS, aux inputs, laptop interface), audio amplifier, and media control system are to be located in the Laptop Lectern opposite the entrance to the classroom. In the event the classroom is too small to accommodate the Lectern, a Media Cabinet should be installed instead. The Media Cabinet should include the control system and all of the media sources listed above. All operator controls are placed within the ADA wheelchair reach profile. (Add link to media control system and lectern specs).4. Speakers - Media sound is to be provided by speakers installed in the drop ceiling. No voice reinforcement system is to be installed.
5. Network Access - Network ports should be located at the front and rear of the room with 3 data ports located at the media cabinet location. Power at front and rear of room. (Add link to Communications Services specifications.) Wireless connectivity (requiring a password) is desirable in Seminar rooms.6. Intercom - A Voice-Over-IP Intercom (VOIP) Phone should be provided for Media Services Help Desk support.
7. Voice Reinforcement - Should not be installed but rather provided on a portable basis when required.
8. Hearing Assist - Audio from the voice reinforcement system and a mono downmix of the media audio is to be provided (UCLA: by an infrared hearing assist system on ISO channel 1 - 95khz).
9. Remote Monitoring/Control - An IP-based remote monitoring and control system should be integrated into the room.
10. Podcasting - (Provided on a portable basis for all but staffed lecture halls and auditoriums.) Audio from the wireless microphone system is digitized, compressed, and placed on the data network for ingest into Podcast servers.
Miscellaneous
1. Sidewalks - should be located away from openable classroom windows so as to maintain minimal ambient noise (typically no closer than 25 ft.).
2. Roads and Service Entrances - No Classroom or Seminar Room shall overlook a road or service entrance for noise and aesthetic reasons.