CHALLENGE
The university’s poor surroundings make it difficult for the staff to motivate and inspire students who are looking for a more attractive setting. How can universities reduce the high dropout rate and motivate students to complete their degrees?

FINDINGS
Changing the physical surroundings can create a basis for new ways of teaching and studying at the university, which will give students a greater desire and motivation to complete their studies.
Spacious, flexible surroundings create greater opportunities for development and differentiated teaching situations. At the same time, beautiful
design and a flexible environment inspire students to use the facilities – also outside teaching hours.
Beautiful interior design gives a higher degree of identification with the study environment and increases the community feeling.

SOLUTION
A TRY-OUT Lab is developed for the University of Copenhagen’s South Campus (KUA) as a precursor for the final organisation and development of the new campus, KUA2. The TRY-OUT Lab comprises three classrooms, a knowledge centre and a square. The design is based on the needs of the individual students and the possibility to use the university’s surroundings on their own terms, while the physical surroundings are motivating towards acquiring knowledge and get involved in the study environment. The newly organised rooms appeal to a more informal teaching environment and make it possible to test what the physical surroundings mean for both actual teaching and the study atmosphere resulting in improved and modern university surroundings. 

Design Rosan Bosch and Rune Fjord
Customer University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Humanities