University of Utah Field Trip: Part 1 of 2

Veterans Day is a time to thank those that have served our country through the armed forces. For the Financial Literacy and AVID classes, this year, it also meant they were to take a field trip to the University of Utah.

The first destination was the Arts and Architecture Building. After looking at some interesting and well-done pieces, they gathered in a classroom to learn about entrepreneurship and the Lassonde Institute. Four ambassadors challenged the DaVincians to come up with an idea, a change … in two minutes. The walls quickly filled with pieces of paper and stickers to show support. It showed that anyone can become an entrepreneur and it isn’t just limited to business owners and economists, although they do play a large role.

This led into the next topic for discussion. The Lassonde Studios is a new residential building currently under construction in the middle of campus, in partnership with the David Eccles School of Business, for students from all majors. The only requirement is to be creative and ready to innovate. It is the first of its kind in the nation, if not the world, and is unique in so many ways. Several other well-known and prestigious universities, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Rice University, are looking to follow.

The first floor will consist of a 24/7 open work-space, called the Garage, for students to collaborate on projects. It is full of technology, ranging from a computer lab of only Macs (rather than the traditional Windows) to 3-D printers for them to see prototypes. Since it will always be open and students can create or participate in anything their heart desires, the possibilities are endless.

Four residential floors above are each themed and split into communities to accommodate different tastes. The designs are all fun and creative, but are done to make students feel comfortable while innovating and provide a similar feel to the actual work environment. Commonly used tools are available to assist in designing, while activities are held to help get ideas flowing. At the moment, there are four planned communities: games and digital media, global impact and sustainability, product design, and adventure and gear.

To top off the package, in addition to the traditional dorms and lofts available, students can try a unique experience, created exclusively for this project. Living pods are individual suites, within a community of twenty, movable by overhead wires, similar to the TRAX light rail system running throughout the city. They also have all movable furniture and an open floor plan, which allows maximum flexibility, as students aren’t limited to their rooms or forced to sacrifice relaxation for work.

There is room for a hundred students, thus the “Lassonde 400” nickname for the residents, and the applications are rolling, which means students wanting to stay here in future years, whether 2015 or 2018, can and are recommended to apply NOW. Also, unlike the traditional basic information format, students are required to submit a link to a creative making of the prospective resident. It can be anything. It was expected that applications would come in rapidly, but that hasn’t happened and only a small number have applied. That means there is still room.