The Cornwell Computer Center, also known as the Cornwell Room, has been an adaptive learning space in the McCallie-Kennedy Library at Darlington School since its construction. Initially designed as a computer lab, the room transitioned to a tutor and group workspace in later years with the adoption of 1:1 technology by the school.
At the beginning of this school year, Technology Integration Coordinator Rebekah Kinney presented a challenge to her Creative Technologies/Design Thinking class, giving them the opportunity to redesign the Cornwell Room. The goal of the project was to create a space that met the needs of the library, was student-friendly, enhanced with technology and could be used by a variety of groups in the Darlington Community.
Senior Noah Woford (‘17) immediately took the lead on this design thinking project and has worked diligently to see it to completion prior to his graduation from Darlington.
Today, Woford cut the ribbon on the new Cornwell Room and unveiled the space to classmates as well as the Board of Trustees.
“The Design Thinking class taught by Mrs. Kinney is very project-based,” said Woford. “I needed a project for the first semester, so I took the lead. I never imagined that this project would take me through the school year and that we’d be cutting the ribbon just before graduation.”
The new Cornwell Room is a thinking and learning space that’s designed to be comfortable and versatile. The furniture can be reconfigured easily, and the room seats 22 people comfortably. The walls feature a special type of paint that allows them to be used as whiteboards, and there are two large TV screens and a projector, all connected to Apple TV units that sync easily with student and faculty devices.
Each element of the design was brought into
Woford and his team initiated the process early in the school year by speaking with their peers about how they would like to utilize the space. Next, the team interviewed Melinda Homes, director of library services, to understand the library’s needs and her ideas on how the room could best be used. The class then began the ideating process, using post-it notes to brainstorm ideas for
“This year, we’ve tried to create new spaces in the library that could be the catalyst for changes in the classroom,” said Holmes. “The Cornwell Room was an ideal place to start and it was logical to involve students in the design of the space.”
Woford and the design thinking team worked with DeKalb Office, touring their facilities and learning about the furnishing and design options that would best suit the space. Woford then partnered with classmate Zenith Han (‘19), who taught him the basics of Fusion 360, a CAD design program that assisted with the room’s prototype. The team at DeKalb Office then took those initial renderings and helped complete the design with furnishings from Steelcase.
With the design of the space complete, the creative technologies team faced a new challenge, funding. Woford, with assistance from classmate Kathryn Chunn (‘19), presented the project to both Tiger Pride and the Board of Trustees, requesting funding for the remodeling and furnishing of the Cornwell Room.
Woford and Chunn’s presentations clearly resonated with those groups. Tiger Pride stepped in with funding for the room’s technology needs, and 14 trustees made gifts toward the renovation, which fully funded the project.
“The Board of Trustees was thrilled to support the renovation of the Cornwell Room,” said Dr. Bob Hortman (‘72), vice chair of the Board. “This project resonated with the Board because it is the perfect example of modern education, giving students the real-world experience of seeing the design process through all stages.”
“I believe the hardest part of the project was developing the presentation and organizing my ideas into something that was presentable to the Board and Tiger Pride,” reflected Woford. “Showing the design-thinking process model and how it translated to the project was simple, but I also wanted to show the amount of work that had been invested into the project as well as the lasting benefit that this project could have on the entire Darlington Community.”
Click here to view a photo gallery of the Cornwell Room and read thank you messages from students and faculty connected to the project.
