Catherine Murray-Rust
Dean of Libraries

At the academic crossroads of campus adjacent to the library, the G. Wayne Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons is Tech’s visible commitment to its undergraduate students. Clough Commons, which is open 24 hours a day (and virtually every day of the year), offers 220,000 square feet of classrooms, labs and learning spaces. With more than 2,000 new seats in common areas, two large auditoria, classrooms and group study rooms that can be reserved for any day and time, the search for a functional place to study just got a whole lot easier.

Clough Commons - the result of more than 10 years of planning and $93 million of private and state funding-is the center of learning for most first-and second-year students at Tech. The building contains 41 classrooms, most with state-of-the-art technology, as well as studios for students to practice presentations. In addition, all first-year labs in biology, physics, chemistry, and earth and atmospheric science (EAS) are housed in Clough Commons. The variety of learning environments includes traditional and not-so-traditional classrooms, sunlit open seating areas, art exhibit space, Starbucks and a roof garden complete with trees and benches. Plus, the rooms can be reconfigured to suit a particular project or teaching style.

Clough Commons is a LEED rated building with a green roof, solar panels and other sustainability features. As part of the Clough construction project, Tech installed a 1.4 million gallon cistern to improve water conservation for central campus. Tech Green and the walkways from the Library’s front door to the Student Center have been transformed into a welcoming green space complete with new sidewalks, lighting, and seating for all who pass by to enjoy.

But Clough Commons is much more than aesthetics and technology. It is designed to be an active place in which students get help with all things academic in one central location. Clough Commons houses many essential student services such as tutoring, undergraduate communications support and academic advising. The Office of Information Technology provides computing and technology support for extended hours. The Library, which is physically connected to Clough Commons on two floors, provides research and advising assistance.

A growing list of events, exhibits and activities is planned for the 2011-2012 academic year. To celebrate the opening, the Library is hosting tours and events throughout the fall. Click here for a schedule of upcoming tours. For more information on Clough Commons, visit the CULC website.