Integrated Innovation Reimagined

Can a classroom building foster better social connection in cross-functional teams?

The Integrated Innovation Institute is a graduate program at Carnegie Mellon University. An initiative of the College of Engineering, School of Design, and the School of Business, the Master of Integrated Innovation program unites the disciplines of engineering, design, and business, to trains students to build impactful solutions that create value for real people.

The connections between Integrated Innovation students are some of the most valuable aspects of the program. Therefore, the iii building must be redesigned to be a warm, social space in addition to a productive studio space.

Before:

And what of the comfort of the walk between the iii studio space and the classroom? For cold? Wind? What about dirt and grime?

In this drawing, I used information I gathered from simulations such as daylight, sunpath, radiation analysis and wind rose, to examine the experience of walking to and from these two buildings.

Additionally, I have also layered with these diagrams, views of the walk as well, in the form of an exploded, cubist perspective. These photos communicate the implicit, qualitative experience of this pathway to complement the simulation diagrams.

Can we reduce the glare into the iii classroom windows on the West side of the building? What of a warm place to gather? Perhaps the iii studio should be moved to the classroom instead, and the administrative offices above be moved to what is now the current studio space.

(Left) Likelihood of Running into Integrated Innovators on Their Way Home 
Based on interviews of common routes taken home