The Lab Lounge (CB07.02) is a new learning space designed to support contemporary student study practices and contribute to a more connected, inclusive campus environment.
The initiative was developed through a partnership between the UTS Library, Faculty of Science and the Property Unit, and supported by SSAF funding. It responds to longstanding student demand for additional high‑quality study space and reflects the University’s broader commitment to student success beyond the classroom.
A space shaped by how students study
The Lab Lounge has been designed to offer students genuine choice in how they use the space. It includes a mix of individual study settings, collaborative zones, bookable group study rooms and informal social areas, allowing the space to support focused work, group learning, student events and connection across the day.
Design approaches draw on lessons learned from UTS Central and other Library led informal learning environments across campus, while also responding to the specific context of the Science building. This balance supports both a cohesive UTS experience and a strong sense of faculty identity for students.
Safety, inclusion and accessibility embedded in the design
Student safety and wellbeing were central considerations throughout the design process. Improved sightlines, study rooms with glazed walls and clear zoning increase visibility and encourage respectful use of the space, while also supporting students to feel safe and comfortable studying on campus.
These design choices align closely with the UTS Student Experience Framework, and the intersecting priorities of belonging, wellbeing, academic engagement and partnership. The Lab Lounge contributes to these priorities by creating an environment that supports peer-to-peer interaction, flexible learning and inclusive participation.
Delivered through cross-unit collaboration
The Lab Lounge was delivered in a tight timeframe of approximately 5 months, demonstrating the value of close collaboration across Library, Faculty and Property teams. It is also the first partnership project delivered under the Library’s Informal Learning Space Management Framework, which aims to provide consistent, distinctive and high-quality student experience across campus.
Ongoing management of the space, including bookings of the space is led by the Library, in partnership with Facilities and the Faculty of Science. This ensures operational consistency while enabling adjustments informed by student feedback and patterns of use.
Supporting UTS’s long-term student experience priorities
The project contributes to UTS’s strategic focus on creating student-centred, flexible learning environments as outlined in the UTS 2030 strategy. It also forms part of a broader program of work to address greater access to informal learning space for students at UTS.
Strong student uptake and positive feedback highlight the importance of investing in well-designed informal learning environments that support both learning and connection.
Staff are encouraged to visit the space in Building 7 (the Vicki Sara Building) and consider how similar partnerships can amplify our campus experience for students.