The construction of a large, white wall on the third floor of the Brown Library last week marked the beginning of construction on the new AT&T Learning Studio.

The space between the Stanley Reading Room and the bay windows has been blocked off from the rest of the library and will remain separated until the AT&T Learning Studio’s grand opening in spring 2011.

Kyle Dickson, associate professor of English and director of the AT&T Learning Studio, said construction should not interfere with other student study spaces in the library.

“We feel like working with the librarians and preserving quiet spaces while adding new capabilities is kind of key to the future successes of the library,” Dickson said.

All areas on the first and second floors are still open for use, and the Stanley Reading Room can still be accessed through the atrium staircase on the second floor.

Plans for the studio were finalized three weeks ago, and demolition began last week. Much of the work includes making room for several new and innovative spaces in the AT&T Learning Studio.

These spaces include “multiple collaboration” – or “whiteboard” – rooms, which will allow students to meet in groups for both personal and school projects.

Kyle Trafton, media specialist in the new studio, says he hopes these spaces will prompt students to explore their passions inside and outside the classroom.

Trafton’s goal echoes the overarching hopes for the new studio. Dickson said initial planning for the new space last spring made it clear that renovations needed to provide a creative space that would benefit students of all skill levels.

“Students often just need a place to get started,” Dickson said. “We want the Digital Media Center as it moves upstairs to be a way to combine both their private passions, as well as new approaches to using media and learning.”

Collaboration rooms, a larger and more open recording space, a high-definition recording studio, a speaking center, and an improved area for the library’s media collections are a few of the new features set to be unveiled this spring.

Dickson said construction is on schedule, and he did not anticipate any major setbacks to delay the predicted opening date.

An update of the construction process, along with an overview of the AT&T Learning Studio, can be found at blogs.acu.edu/learningstudio.