Planning for Growing Computer Science Programs
Date Posted: August 27, 2024
Posted In: Discussion, Ideas,
From Building Design + Construction: Driven by emerging AI developments and digital transformation in the business world, university computer science programs are projected to grow by nearly 15% by 2030. These programs serve both the underlying basic computing research, along with applied computing degrees at both the graduate and undergraduate level.
Through our design with Computer Science programs, we have found that numerous collaboration spaces are critical for successful growth and have identified key ratios of collaboration space types that are required to provide an effective department.
Collaboration analysis
Over the last few years, Shepley Bulfinch has been working on a renovation and addition at a prominent university that will serve as a vibrant and interdisciplinary hub for computational research and education. The facility will promote collaboration, interaction, and community. To inform the planning strategy on this project, we examined peer universities’ computer science departments structures and workflows.
Our analysis revealed some “rule of thumb” ratios for collaboration space types.
From silo tasks to teamwork
We looked at the functions of computer science departments and what activities are most prevalent for both research and teaching groups. While a computer scientist’s work may be independent, we learned that team members need interactive areas where they can discuss and analyze their work as a group.