Emory University Cox Hall Computing Center
A Blend of Collaboration and Computing

Background

Cox Computing Center was an extremely fast-track project. Planning and design for Cox began in January 2002, with demolition following Commencement in mid-May, and the facility opening on time in mid-October. To meet this timeline, the project team met weekly, working closely together to bring the project in on schedule and under budget.

The new Cox Computing Center is a free-flowing area with collaborative workspaces acting as anchor points of the10,000 square foot facility.

Implementation

Uniting these diverse spaces is the audio-visual routing system which is comprised of two racks containing DVD, VCR, cable TV, and computers. Any signal can be routed to any collaborative space or to all spaces at once, rather than checking out a DVD and taking it to a deck. For example, the student can reserve "DVD Player A," hand the service desk a DVD movie, and ask that it be routed to the Collaboration Corner.  Using a wall mounted touch panel in that area, the student has full control of the DVD and can toggle back and forth with other sources, such as a paper or presentation.

Incredibly, despite the technical and conceptual complexity of the installation, students have had little trouble negotiating the system and in only two short months, the Cox Computing Center has become a staple of academic life at Emory.

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  • The Fishbowl conference room houses a 50" plasma on a swivel arm for small group work.
  • The Gallery (adjacent to a coffee machine) allows for the projection of students' digital video artwork as well as Friday night movies.
  • The Pole provides a space for students to connect a laptop to a 50" plasma with a touch sensitive overlay, allowing the review and editing of documents, web sites, and PowerPoint presentations.
  • The Collaboration Corner houses a Rear Projection Smart Interactive Whiteboard with similar functionality.
  • Classrooms "A" and "B" have implemented Visual Interactive Presenter, a fully integrated movable multimedia teaching system.