Rush University Medical Center

The College of Medicine at Rush University Medical Center redesigned its curriculum to create an interactive and innovative approach to delivering high quality medical education to its growing student population.  Aligned with this curriculum change was the University’s vision to create innovative learning space that supports their goal to create a highly engaging and collaborative educational experience for its students.

DKA was commissioned by the University to transform existing outdated learning spaces and a vacated office suite, located within the University Medical Center, into technology-rich, large-scale active learning spaces where students and instructors may seamlessly collaborate and interact with one another.  Flexible furnishings and interactive AV equipment allow groups of students to naturally engage with each other to perform research, share information, and present the outcome of their work to others.  Instructors are also provided the infrastructure and equipment necessary to support the interactive student group work, such as multiple forms of media & technology, flexible-mobile writing surfaces, zoned lighting, and acoustical treatments.

In order to showcase the curriculum and educational process to the Rush University Medical Center’s community, the active learning spaces have been designed to be visually exposed to the surrounding corridors and open up to a new student lounge area.  Glass walls and custom graphic displays have been incorporated to highlight the activity happening within these spaces and express the dynamic aspects of the program.