New teaching methods in medical curricula emphasizes active over passive learning and incorporates technology that promotes collaborative study. These strategies require new education environments such as Problem-based and Team-based or Active Learning classrooms. The challenge of providing large, flat floor education spaces in existing aged facilities is finding sufficient space for an entire class that also has the infrastructure to support computer and audiovisual technologies. In 2013, B+MD Architects completed a feasibility study which included surveys of all existing medical education classrooms, library and lecture halls at the Feinberg School of Medicine in the search for appropriate space for an Active Learning Classroom.

An existing faculty office suite on the main floor of the McGaw Center was reduced in size to create contiguous space for 4 classrooms to accommodate 180 medical students simultaneously. Each classroom was designed to work as individual classrooms and together as 1 large classroom. Automatic operable partitions that rise into the ceiling divide the classrooms from each other. The AV system permits the moderator to present content from the students’ or the instructors’ laptop to any or all monitors in the rooms. Ceiling speakers and microphones permit small and large group discussions. Recording equipment is available for professors to make their classes available for online viewing.