Nov 20, 2010 - Claremont, Calif. -

"I see this space as a beacon for the future," said President Maria Klawe during the opening ceremony of the new Learning Studio in Sprague Center (formerly Sprague Library).

To an attentive crowd of HMC community members and friends Nov. 19, Klawe lauded the amenities that the studio affords. "This space is an opportunity to experiment and experience what it means to have flexible space," she said.

Since the Learning Studio opened in September, faculty members and students have been putting it to good use. Professors Clive Dym (engineering) and Jeff Groves (humanities, social sciences and the arts) were on hand to share their experiences with their new, "favorite" classroom.

Both described how they enjoyed the light, airy and open atmosphere of the room plus the ease of configuring the seating arrangement. Having laptops nearby and available for use by each student were other assets, they said.

Students have dubbed the space "Platt 2.0," in reference to the study and lounge space in Platt Campus Center. The Learning Studio affords them updated furniture and modern computing resources.

President Klawe thanked those who made the Learning Studio possible, including The Fletcher Jones Foundation ($750,000 grant), the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation, architect Dan Lawrence, contractor Tovey Shultz Construction Inc. and HMC's Computing and Information Services, including Joseph Vaughan, CIO and vice president, who ended the event with a toast: "To continued success and innovation."

Prof. Andy Bernoff, Dean Maggie Browning and President Klawe	Joseph Vaughn, CIO
Elizabeth Hodas describes Learning Studio features to Tovey Shultz and Prof. Erika Dyson.	Prof. Jeffrey Groves
Susan Selhorst and Iris Critchell	Vaughn family members