Industry: Education
Location: Des Plaines, IL
Architect: UrbanWorks, Ltd.
Photography: AJ Brown Imaging LLC
Completion Date: 2026
Size: 27,607 SF
Project Overview
Oakton Community College’s award-winning* Learning Commons at its Des Plaines campus centralizes shared spaces and creates a hub for student services.
Forward Space partnered with Oakton to support the creation of a modern, student-centered environment designed to serve as the “heart of campus.” The goal was to meet students where they are and simplify access to services while supporting a more collaborative and inclusive learning experience.
The Design Approach
The strategy focused on integrating multiple student services into a single, cohesive environment to reduce barriers and create a more seamless and elevated experience for all students.
A variety of settings and furniture were incorporated to support different modes of learning. Focus rooms, huddle spaces, pop-in pods, and open study areas provide flexibility for both individual and group work. Spaces for prayer or meditation and sensory rooms ensure the environment is inclusive and responsive to a wide range of student needs. A multi-level seating area within the library introduces choices to accommodate both informal gatherings and individual study.
Furniture solutions, including Bivi and Frame One, help define adaptable zones throughout the space and support movement, collaboration, and moments of focus without creating rigid boundaries.
Accessibility and inclusion for all students were top priorities for the space and are embedded throughout. A wheelchair-accessible phone booth provides a private, functional space often overlooked traditional planning. Custom elements in central circulation areas help define departments while maintaining an open, approachable help-desk concept to make support visible and easy to access.
Smaller “in-between” spaces are intentionally activated to support short-term use, offering moments of privacy without requiring dedicated rooms. Soft seating and residential-style furnishings around a fireplace create a welcoming, hospitality-driven atmosphere, reinforcing the Learning Commons as a place where students can both focus and feel comfortable.
Outcome
The finished environment establishes a central hub that elevates student experience and brings together services, spaces, and support into one cohesive destination. Designed for flexibility and inclusivity, the Learning Commons supports how students work today while adapting to evolving needs across campus.
*In March of 2026, Oakton Community College was among the recipients of the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Community Enhancement Awards. This was in recognition of the Learning Commons for enriching educational opportunities in Des Plaines and the surrounding community.