Several years ago, biology students would have to crowd around their instructors at George Mason University in Fairfax to see how to perform dissections. But with the new instructor workstations installed in every room of the university’s newest academic building, Innovation Hall, instructors can perform dissections using a Creston system. Acting like a sophisticated overhead projector, the system allows students to stay put at their stations.
"The students are going to be familiar with the technology," said operational support manager Ijaz Hussain. "So when the students get out, they’ll be prepared to use the latest technology."
Newly opened for students and classes this fall, Innovation Hall, a $14.5 million building complete with technological whistles and bells, has state-of-the-art classrooms and a television production studio. Each classroom is hooked up with sound systems, Internet connection for laptops and touch-screen computers, video players, and digital projectors in the podiums. The 100,000-square-foot building also has 12 computer classrooms and a computer lab, and 150- and 300-seat lecture halls with rear-screen projection and wireless capability.
"The lecture halls and classrooms are just amazing," said Jason Smolinski, an Information Technology major. Four out of his five classes meet in the new building.
Lindsay Held, a civil engineering major, had only one class in Innovation Hall, but she still appreciated the building’s technology.
Her instructor is "able to divide the screen into two. And it’s really helpful," said Held of her instructor’s presentation capabilities.
Several Information Technology departments moved some of their outfits to Innovation Hall this summer, although classroom space isn’t limited to Information Technology subjects.
"It’s going to provide better support structure," said Joann Wray, a lab manager with the Learning Support Services Department. While parts of her department were still scattered throughout the Fairfax campus, the move to Innovation Hall makes their services more centralized, Wray said.
The completion of Innovation Hall represents just a portion of the university’s construction plans for the next several years. A 500-bed residence hall opened this fall, and a new 1,200-car parking deck is scheduled to open in December 2004. The university anticipates the construction of a new research building in 2005, another academic building in 2006, an 8,000-square-foot addition to the Aquatic and Fitness Center, and renovations to the Thompson and West buildings and to the Patriot Center, the student union and Fenwick Library.
"Like the name says, it’s Innovation Hall. With each chair, you can hook your laptop," Smolinski said.