The Professional

Fall 2012

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the professional November 2012 • cmich.edu/ehs a newsletter of the college of education and human services Building on a dream EHS Bui lding grows into founder s' vision for a green, technology-enr iched space More than three years after the opening of the Education and Human Services Building, the vegetation on the building's green roof has rooted deeply enough that it no longer requires maintenance and can survive off rainwater alone. The roots of the students, faculty and staff are also deepening within the building – but in many ways, the building still is budding and growing into its founders' original vision. It requires constant dedication to grow that dream. "In a lot of ways, we really haven't scratched the surface yet of its potential," says Dean Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson. "I feel an enormous debt to the people who created this vision and an enormous amount of responsibility to use this building well." In particular, the late Dean Karen Adams played a crucial role in creating and nurturing the environmentally friendly space that is technologically sophisticated enough to prepare future educators and human services professionals. "She had a vision for unique learning spaces where faculty and students could come together in an environment that was not only sustainable, but also beautiful," says Pehrsson. "And as I walk through this building, I see her vision." Student s , facul t y set technology agenda From the building's signature slate exterior (an allusion to the chalkboards of old) to the sustainable bamboo walls and technologically fertile learning spaces, the building embraces the past and the future. That attention to detail recently earned the building the Grand Prize for "Outstanding Design and Architecture in Education" by College Planning & Management magazine. Judges remarked on the building's "timeless quality" and thoughtful design. Planners were careful that the building's technology was utilized only to the degree that it is necessary and helpful. Sometimes that tool is as simple as a whiteboard or as complex as a classroom equipped with smart boards and copy cams. The copy cams capture lecture notes from smart boards and convert them electronically to a class website or a student's flash drive. The technology also is very egalitarian. continued on page 5 the professional • November 2012 1

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