From historic halls to a vibrant learning community, transforming student life at Edinburgh University's Paterson's Land

Picture walking into a century-old building with student spaces that felt tired and uninspiring, not quite connecting with today's learners. That's what we encountered at Paterson's Land in the University of Edinburgh's Holyrood Campus. This isn't just any building, originally constructed in 1913 as a teacher training centre, Paterson's Land now serves as a vital teaching and learning facility for the School of Education and the Centre for Open Learning. It houses classrooms, study spaces, and resource centres where future educators and lifelong learners come together.

But here's where it gets interesting.

We saw an opportunity to create something special within this historic framework, a breakout and study space that could truly serve the diverse community using this building daily. The real transformation happened when we listened closely to students and staff about how they actually use these spaces.

The answer wasn't surface-level changes. They needed environments that could adapt throughout the day, quiet zones for focused study that could seamlessly transition into collaborative areas for group projects and informal learning.

What emerged is 'The Nook', a vibrant social spaces that bring students and staff together at the Centre for Open Learning.
Custom-designed installations for food and drinks ensure conversations keep flowing naturally, while flexible layouts support everything from individual study sessions to spontaneous learning moments.

Now that term is in full swing, seeing these historic halls buzzing with genuine community activity validates everything we believe about the power of thoughtful design.

There's something profound about creating spaces where learning happens not just in formal classrooms, but in those informal moments between conversations over coffee, collaborative study sessions, and connections that extend far beyond the curriculum.
What role do you think breakout spaces play in modern education? We'd love to hear your perspective.

P.S. None of this would have been possible without the creativity and hard work of our architect Josh Cullerton, who brought these ideas to life so beautifully.