Lynn University International Business Center. Image © Michael Moran
When it comes to design, the higher education sector is often faced with a quandary: pursue trends or pursue sustainability?
David Broz 
The new University of Kansas School of Business building marks a departure from the traditional design model – and, thus, the traditional approach to learning – focusing on innovation, serendipity, and being “future ready.” Image © Gensler
Over the past five years, we’ve seen a specific trend emerge in the world of higher education. It’s the emergence of a relatively small space, called the academic incubator. For Gensler, this began with universities such as MIT and organizations like Chicago’s 1871. They were designing hybrid maker spaces that acted as ‘bridges’ between the worlds of academia and the workplace, and they had the feel of entrepreneurial start-up offices. They may seem like a fad that’s spreading lightning-fast through the worlds of business and education, but we think they signal a more important paradigm shift. We see academic incubators as the spark igniting a revolution in design for learning.
Mark Thaler 
Dwight-Englewood School Hajjar STEM Center. Image © Paúl Rivera
In my October 2014 post, “The State of STEM: Aligning Design with Pedagogy,” I reported on the lofty aspirations around the design of the new STEM building at the Dwight-Englewood School, where we sought to create a new paradigm for a STEM facility that aligned with strategies we created with the School in our research paper, “ The ABC’s of STEM.” This past September, the building was opened with huge anticipation and excitement, dedicated as the Hajjar STEM Center. In translating our research into practice, some key design elements and lessons learned emerged:
David Broz 
Garage at Northwestern. Image: Garrett Rowland.
Millennials are looking to Gather for MeaningThe student union has always been a college campus’s shared environment. It’s where students gather and a sense of community is fostered. Student unions historically offered leisure activities like bowling, movie night or student government offices, but today’s students are looking for more. They want to unite for something meaningful – not just for themselves, but for the benefit of their communities. Universities are filling this void with innovation centers and academic incubators.
Workshop participants establish the building blocks of change. Image © Gensler
Inspiration and innovation happen when ideas intersect, yet starting in kindergarten we are taught to put objects, thoughts, and ideas into isolated buckets. Math, Science and English buckets. Good and bad idea buckets.
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