Specifications

Learning Spaces Guidelines
Generic Guidelines: 7
Section 1: Types of learning space
There are a variety of types of learning space within UCL. Below are
the three main categories of teaching space as described by Estates
with additional sub-categories within those.
Lecture Theatres – these spaces have fixed furniture
Large Lecture Theatres – these spaces accommodate in
excess of 50 students, generally have a raked floor and are
arranged with fixed seating facing the front.
Small Lecture Theatres – 7 of these spaces exist at UCL
and they accommodate less than 50 students in fixed
seating on a flat floor. Most other institutions would not refer
to spaces of this size as lecture theatres.
Classrooms – these spaces have movable furniture
Classrooms – at UCL these spaces accommodate between
6 and 80 students and can have a variety of non-fixed
furniture types.
Public Cluster – these spaces have desktop PCs
IT cluster spaces – these spaces provide access to IT
equipment and at UCL range in capacity from 10 to 70
individual computers. Generally are available for individual
students to use when they are not booked for teaching IT
related topics.
Non-teaching spaces – there are also other types of centrally
managed learning space beyond the above three Room Bookings
categorizations. These spaces are available for student use during
the opening hours of the appropriate building.
Open-Access computer rooms (cluster spaces) – these
spaces provide access to IT equipment and at UCL these
range in capacity from 10 to 170 individual computers.
Informal learning spaces – these spaces could be of any
size and are not used for teaching. The learning function
of the space may be combined with another function (e.g.
linking space between buildings or function room at certain
times).
Small group working spaces – these spaces accommodate
between 3 and 8 students. They can be bookable (usually
through the Library issuing system).
Departmental/Faculty managed learning spaces – these
spaces are not included in the Room Bookings listings and their
management/booking is undertaken within the department/faculty.
Classrooms – there is a wide variety departmentally/faculty
managed classrooms within UCL.
Specialist workshops or laboratories – there is a wide
variety of this type of space but it is not within scope of
these guidelines.
Common room spaces – these spaces provide areas to
socialise and relax. They are not specifically designed to
support learning but may accommodate facilities for this
and may be used by students for this purpose.