Students at UQ’s TC Beirne School of Law have a place to call their own after the opening of a $1.06 million Student Learning Centre in the historic Forgan Smith Building at St Lucia.
It is the latest in a series of informal learning spaces that have been built across The University of Queensland since 2005.
Opening the School of Law's state-of-the-art space last Friday, Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry said the University was committed to providing informal and flexible work areas designed to enhance peer-to-peer learning and student interaction and collaboration.
“For those of us who were students last century, these spaces are a radical departure from the familiar lecture theatre/tutorial room model and very different from the libraries where staff said ‘shush’ and student snacks were contraband,” Professor Terry said.
The new centre, which will be open 24 hours a day, was partly funded by the University’s Enhanced Student Charge Program.
The transformation of the former law library space by Queensland architects Cocoon Design includes the installation of retro-style ottoman seating, informal study pods with laptop connection and 46” IPTV screens, and 15 computer workstations.
Professor Terry highlighted the successful blending of old and new in the Centre’s design.
“It is another wonderful link between the very modern learning space and the tradition of the school and its links with Queensland’s legal profession,” she said.
In tandem with a radical departure from traditional library rules and regulations, Professor Terry said it was hoped the new surroundings would contribute to “more centred, healthy, people-focused lawyers and leaders”.
“I am confident that this environment will foster collegiality and a sense of belonging among students and this will flow through to their careers,” Professor Terry said.
“Remember: this is not a burn-out space, it is a learning space. It is not meant to make you work longer hours, but to make your learning hours more friendly, fun and productive.”
The Dean of Law, Professor Gerard Carney, said the new Centre was a significant milestone in the School’s efforts to enhance its student experience.
“A space like this facilitates a sense of community among law students and also contributes to their legal training by providing a place for group discussion and debate,” he said.
Among the changes is the installation of new viewing windows, improved seating and advanced audio-visual technology in the Sir Harry Gibbs Moot Court, increasing audience capacity in the courtroom and enabling the live broadcast of moot court proceedings to screens in the centre’s six study pods.
The moot court, constructed using red cedar paneling and furniture from Queensland’s former Supreme Court Building, was installed in the law library in 1973.
Media: Melissa Reynolds, TC Beirne School of Law 07 3365 2523, m.reynolds@law.uq.edu.au
