Students who study at the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre (IKBLC) now have a new way to hit the books. The UBC SEEDS Sustainability Program, with the support of UBC Library faculty and staff, sponsored the design and construction of an active workstation on Level 3 of IKBLC. The permanent installation includes two stationary bikes and an adjustable-height desk, so students can be active while they study. The project addresses several UBC priorities around well-being and healthy active living, while also providing a direct way to enhance the student learning experience at IKBLC.
Photography credit: Meghan Kinnarny
The project was undertaken by a team of senior computer and electrical engineering students as part of their capstone design project, a final requirement and major component of UBC’s engineering degree programs. Work started on the project in late September, when team members Jan Louis Evangelista, Leo Belanger, Mahir Tuli, Max Hollingworth and Sanika Bhide met to discuss the project requirements and begin planning.
“Most of our initial work focused on taking an open-ended idea with plenty of potential and narrowing down what our clients, the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, wanted for the final product,” said Hollingworth.
The project was supervised by Paul Lusina, Research and Project Manager at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and organized by Kathleen Simpson, UBC SEEDS Project Coordinator. On the Library side, Julie Mitchell, Assistant Director of Student Engagement at IKBLC, and Sandra Wilkins, Interim Associate University Librarian and Director, IKBLC, provided active guidance and key insights to the student team as the project’s industry client. Mawuena Glymin and Tracey Douglas from Library IT provided support to ensure infrastructure and technical requirements for the project were on track.
“The Active Workstation in IKBLC demonstrates our commitment to support student well-being, which is an important element of academic success. And what better way for busy students to multitask—you can study and exercise at the same time!” said Mitchell.
Workstation users can track their distance and cycling times by logging into a custom-designed app developed by the student team. Since launching, the bikes have seen plenty of use, clocking a total distance of more than 310 kilometres. With such early success, the installation will serve as a prototype for future workstation initiatives on campus.