{"id":109820,"date":"2025-11-14T13:53:02","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T02:53:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/asia-en\/?p=109820"},"modified":"2026-02-13T17:13:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T06:13:07","slug":"designing-for-the-future-how-unsw-and-steelcase-created-a-human-centered-hybrid-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/asia-en\/research\/articles\/topics\/learning\/designing-for-the-future-how-unsw-and-steelcase-created-a-human-centered-hybrid-space\/","title":{"rendered":"Designing for the Future: How UNSW and Steelcase Created a Human-centered Hybrid Space"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Universities around the world are embracing a new era of hybrid education, rethinking how spaces can inspire learning and connection. Traditional lecture halls, once designed for single-purpose use, are now being reconsidered for their potential to become flexible, multi-use spaces that foster connection, collaboration, and deeper engagement.<\/p>\n<p>The shift toward more human-centered, adaptable learning spaces has never been more relevant.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Reimagining the Lecture Hall<\/h2>\n<p>At the University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney), Dr. David Kellermann, Associate Professor and Deputy Head of School in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, saw an opportunity to redefine the lecture experience \u2013 a more engaging, equitable, and tech-integrated learning environment that adapts to evolving needs and empowers both students and lecturers.<\/p>\n<p>Even before remote learning became the norm, Dr. Kellermann was exploring ways to make education more dynamic. Traditional streaming methods with one-angle setups and limited engagement were falling short for today\u2019s digitally native learners. During the pandemic, he delivered lectures from home using an interactive studio that created a more engaging and responsive experience. He wanted to bring that experience back to campus.<\/p>\n<p>His vision was clear: a space where students could participate meaningfully in-person or remotely. One designed not just around technology, but around the people using it.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_109824\" aria-labelledby=\"figcaption_attachment_109824\" class=\"wp-image wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"width: 1024px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-109824\" src=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1763027141\/UNSW-2.png\" alt=\"UNSW Client Story\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_109824\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The new teaching studio, UNSW Sydney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>When vision meets partnership<\/h2>\n<p>To bring this vision to life, Dr. Kellermann partnered with leaders in technology and design. Drawn to Steelcase\u2019s research and expertise in creating high-performing spaces, he brought the team on as a key partner in shaping the physical environment. Steelcase worked closely with the professor and other collaborators to ensure the space supported the technology, teaching behaviors, participation preferences, and the flexibility users may need.<\/p>\n<!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('video');<\/script><![endif]-->\n\t<div class=\"wp-playlist wp-video-playlist wp-playlist-light\">\n\t\t<video controls=\"controls\" preload=\"none\" width=\"640\"\n\t\t height=\"360\"\t><\/video>\n\t<div class=\"wp-playlist-next\"><\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wp-playlist-prev\"><\/div>\n\t<noscript>\n\t<ol>\n\t\t<li><a href='https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/11\/Steelcase_Main_Master.mp4'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"185\" height=\"104\" src=\"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/11\/Steelcase_Main_Master.mp4\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a><\/li>\t<\/ol>\n\t<\/noscript>\n\t<script type=\"application\/json\" class=\"wp-playlist-script\">{\"type\":\"video\",\"tracklist\":false,\"tracknumbers\":true,\"images\":false,\"artists\":true,\"tracks\":[{\"src\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.steelcase.com\\\/content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/15\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/Steelcase_Main_Master.mp4\",\"type\":\"video\\\/mp4\",\"title\":\"UNSW Sydney Video\",\"caption\":\"\",\"description\":\"\",\"meta\":{\"length_formatted\":\"2:28\"},\"dimensions\":{\"original\":{\"width\":3840,\"height\":2160},\"resized\":{\"width\":640,\"height\":360}},\"image\":{\"src\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.steelcase.com\\\/asia-en\\\/wp-includes\\\/images\\\/media\\\/video.svg\",\"width\":48,\"height\":64},\"thumb\":{\"src\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.steelcase.com\\\/asia-en\\\/wp-includes\\\/images\\\/media\\\/video.svg\",\"width\":48,\"height\":64}}]}<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\t\n<p>The result was a thoughtfully customized studio that elevated the teaching and learning experience:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Multi-angle cameras, spatial audio, and three projection points, including one at the back of the room for remote students, ensured content could be seen and heard clearly by everyone<\/li>\n<li>Mimicking a tiered lecture theatre but with a flat-floor layout, the space was furnished with Steelcase\u2019s low lounges, ottomans, stools and tables of various heights that allow every student to feel unique<\/li>\n<li>Thoughtful furniture customization ensured ergonomic comfort, inclusivity and functionality \u2013 supporting everything from small group discussions to high-focus lectures<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Steelcase\u2019s approach extended beyond aesthetics. It was rooted in understanding how students behave, how lecturers move, and how technology is used.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"pull-quote pull-quote-center \"><p>&#8220;The design of each furniture piece encourages the purpose of the space \u2013 whether it\u2019s attending the lecture, joining a small group discussion or being present in the room.&#8221;<\/p><cite>Dr. David Kellermann<span>Associate Professor and Deputy Head of School in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of New South Wales<\/span><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<h2>A space that inspires engagement<\/h2>\n<p>Since launching the new teaching studio, UNSW has seen significant improvements in both attendance and engagement. Students are choosing to sit at the front of the room, where the learning experience is most immersive and engaging, rather than retreating to the back as they might in a traditional lecture hall.<\/p>\n<p>Today, this state-of-the-art studio that accommodates 45 people is one of the most sought-after rooms on campus. Beyond lectures, it has become a popular venue for faculty meetings and collaborative sessions, proving the value of designing spaces for multi-use flexibility.<\/p>\n<h2>Going beyond education: A model for hybrid workspaces<\/h2>\n<p>While this project was created for next-generation lecture experience, its thinking transcends higher education. The seamless integration of technology and furniture, the support for both physical and digital presence mirrors the needs of modern offices navigating hybrid work.<\/p>\n<p>Steelcase\u2019s role in enabling this space underscores a simple but powerful truth: when spaces are designed for people first, and support equality, connection and flexibility, they unlock better ways to learn, work and thrive.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"pull-quote pull-quote-center \"><p>&#8220;Our long\u2011standing partnership with UNSW reflects a shared commitment to rethinking how learning spaces can better support people. Working closely with Dr.\u202fKellermann, we brought human\u2011centered design and technology together to create an environment that is more engaging, inclusive and designed for how students learn today.&#8221;<\/p><cite>Jason Taper<span>Vice President, Regional Sales<\/span><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<figure id=\"attachment_109832\" aria-labelledby=\"figcaption_attachment_109832\" class=\"wp-image wp-caption alignleft\" style=\"width: 1024px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-109832 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/images.steelcase.com\/image\/upload\/c_limit,dpr_auto,q_70,h_1024,w_1024\/v1763086600\/UNSW-3.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" \/><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_109832\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The new teaching studio, UNSW Sydney<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>A blueprint for the future<\/h2>\n<p>The UNSW hybrid teaching studio is more than a classroom. It is a blueprint for the future \u2014 showing how purposeful design can transform not only how people learn or work, but also how they come together to collaborate, connect, and thrive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Universities around the world are embracing a new era of hybrid education, rethinking how spaces can inspire learning and connection. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13913,"featured_media":109840,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"topic":[14326],"class_list":["post-109820","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","industry-education","topic-learning"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Designing for the Future: How UNSW and Steelcase Created a Human-centered Hybrid Space - Steelcase<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Universities around the world are embracing a new era of hybrid education, rethinking how spaces can inspire learning and connection. 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