Learning Exchange Carport

With four weeks behind us and only one ahead of us, the project team is excited to report that delivery of the project goals has begun. On Thursday, February 9, Evan, Kevin, and Drew headed downtown to the Learning Exchange to deliver the first of two Google Sketchup workshops to a larger than anticipated group of students. The workshop was well received, and the patrons are looking forward to next week’s workshop which will build on the fundamental skills taught in this first workshop.

Results of Public Consultation

On Monday, the group reviewed the surveys that were collected during the patron consultation last week. The most prevalent uses suggested by the patrons were:

• Video production/screening
• Music production/recording space
• Storyboard creation
• Mechanical project space
• Visual art project/classroom space
• Construction project space

The design team has now begun the task of creating a design for the carport space that is suitable for as many of the above uses as possible. The overall intent is to create a space that is as open and versatile as possible, with emphasis on adequate lighting and acoustics.

Evan has sketched a dimensioned floorplan of the current carport arrangement. Although we have a detailed 3D model of the carport, a 2D sketch can be a useful and accessible tool for both quick brainstorming and detailed design. The sketch is shown below:

Sketchup Workshop #1

The first installment of our two part Sketchup workshop was both well attended and well received. The original signup for the event was limited to six students due to limited space and computers, and the group was not certain that attendance would even reach that number. By Thursday afternoon, however, eight students had signed up for the lesson. Evan, Kevin, and Drew were thrilled to see such an interest in the workshop, and equally thrilled that enough computers were available to run it.

The university was able to loan six laptops, and the Learning Exchange was able to supply two. Some patrons also brought their own computers. Evan started the workshop by showing the group some of the capabilities of Sketchup and Google Earth, and then went through a tutorial on the user interface and basic tools. The group was instructed through the creation of a house model, and shown how to add colours and materials. The tutorial finished with some free time for students to continue to develop their skills and ask questions of the instructors.

Overall, the students that attended the workshop were very excited about the program and interested in using it for jewery, home, landscape, and artistic design. The students were shown additional learning resources for Sketchup, and we likely expect to be enlisting the teaching skills of several of the patrons during next week’s tutorial. During that tutorial, we will ask the patrons if we can include pictures taken of them learning Sketchup on our blog. Check out next week’s blog for some shots of the Learning Exchange in action!

Next Steps

With the first workshop behind us, and the next on less than a week away, the Sketchup instructional aspect of the project goals are on time and on budget. Due to a heavy academic load in the week leading up to the mid-term break, the design group expects that the final presentation to the client will take place during the week classes resume. The group will meet again on Monday to discuss the progress of the design, and assign design task as neccessary.

As always, your thoughts and comments are welcome!