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New computer lab added to Crerar library
Construction of a $1-million computing cluster in the south basement
of Crerar Library began in September. Scheduled to open in spring
2000, the lab will cover 5,500 square feet and house up to 100 computers.
According to Chad Kainz, director of instructional technology
for Networking Services and Information Technology (NSIT), the new
lab will stress interaction and a creative learning environment
with assorted computer clusters and work spaces rather than the
traditional rows of machines.
The project is a joint venture of NSIT, the Biological Sciences
Division, and Crerar Library, designed to integrate technology into
the U of C learning model by providing individual, collaborative,
and classroom computing environments in a single space.
The cluster will offer machines with up to three different platforms—Mac
OS, Windows NT, and Linux/Unix—and will have three separate
work areas. The first, a casual meeting space, will have 16 machines
equipped mainly for e-mail and Web access. The second area will
be a mix of systems, grouped in clusters for general computing and
collaboration. The third will be an advanced graphics classroom
and seminar space that can be reserved for faculty-led sessions
or for student projects.
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