UCF’s New Knowledge Commons

UCF’s oldest academic building opened for the fall semester Monday, August 23 with a “facelift.” Completion of the Knowledge Commons, the newly redesigned main floor of the Library, marks the first significant change to the building since 1984. The space brings learning, technology, resources, and academic support together in a way that meets student demands for support of collaborative and individual study, research, and discovery.

Some comfortable group project areas in the Commons feature large, flat-screen monitors and white boards. Other areas house computer workstations flanked by panels for an atmosphere of privacy for an individual or several students. The Knowledge Commons features 196 computers and seating for 479. In total, two-thirds of seating on the floor will host either a desktop PC or be wired with 110V outlets where students can plug in laptops and personal technology.

Assistance with library resources and technology will be available at the new Research and Information Desk. Two glass-enclosed consultation stations, in close proximity to the Research and Information Desk, are available for appointments with librarians for in-depth research assistance.

The new Knowledge Commons space is the result of several years of feedback from the UCF community. Library staff consulted with students and faculty members about how the facility could support research, teaching and learning. The 2009-2010 Student Technology fee and the UCF Foundation’s Annual Parents Campaign provided funding in part for the Knowledge Commons. Work on the second floor began in May 2010 and continued through the summer semester. The Library’s Web site was updated with project news and pictures of the construction throughout the summer.