Center for Innovation & the Arts, Spelman College

Founded in 1881 in Atlanta, Spelman College is historically recognized as one of the most important universities for African-American women, its program strongly focused on female empowerment and the value of knowledge as a tool for emancipation. The recent completion of the Mary Schmidt Campbell Center for Innovation & the Arts designed by Studio Gang continues this tradition as it takes on board a contemporary approach to education, community, and environmental sustainability, strengthens the intersection between the arts and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) disciplines, and builds a creative learning environment fostering interaction between knowledge and practical workshop activities.

Located at the outer edge of the historic campus walls – and so, symbolically bridging the academic and urban worlds – the Center is aptly configured as a relational device: a porous space inviting interaction between students and teachers but also open to Atlanta’s Westside community. In fact, the project has as much to do with urban design and providing a platform for cultural and social exchange as it does with creating an environment for university learning.

Spanning several levels, the building is configured to achieve two main objectives: on the one hand, intensify relations between STEM disciplines and the arts and, on the other, promote new forms of interdisciplinary collaboration by creating spaces designed for interaction, co-creation, and experimentation. These are reflected in two core areas in the upper part of the Center designed as dynamic, flexible teaching environments: the Arthur M. Blank Innovation Lab and the Forum.

The Innovation Lab is located in the south-west corner of the second level and houses a laboratory equipped with advanced technological instruments for group work. The large openings overlooking the grounds and the double-height glazed walls allowing views of the upper floor create...

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