The University of Georgia is reimagining learning spaces by combining resources that allow students to experiment with their ideas and bring them to life with new technologies. In the new Creative Engagement Wing at the Miller Learning Center, students can record a podcast, embroider a tapestry, 3D print a medical device prototype or rehearse a presentation using a virtual reality headset.

A collaborative project between the UGA Libraries, Office of Instruction and Enterprise Information Technology Services, the wing will equip students with 21st-century skills and tools to take their ideas to the next level, both for their classes and in pursuing their own ideas and interests. Funded by these offices with support from the UGA Foundation, the space opened at the beginning of the fall 2025 semester.

“The Miller Learning Center already is a center of academic life at UGA that receives more than 2 million visits every year,” said P. Toby Graham, associate provost and university librarian. “It is the ideal location for this new place of discovery where students will hone their ability to experiment and to communicate their ideas in writing, verbally and across a range of media.”

The new Creative Engagement Wing includes:

• a makerspace, complete with a laser cutter, 3D printers, sewing machines, a button maker and more

• a VR model classroom with 42 VR headsets for immersive learning experiences

• a presentation collaboratory where students can practice their speaking skills or work on group presentations with advanced audiovisual equipment

• a podcast studio with professional-grade recording equipment and soundproofing

• a digital media lab equipped with industry-standard editing software and hardware for video, audio and graphic design projects

• the Jill & Marvin Willis Center for Writing, providing expert consultation and support

• and a collaborative study commons where students can brainstorm

The Miller Learning Center, which opened in 2003, was originally designed as a modern digital library to provide computer lab access to students in need of that technology. But today, most students bring their own laptops to campus.

“We had a good opportunity to reimagine how these spaces are being used,” said Sarah Wardlaw Jones, director of client services for EITS. “The new wing responds to the way things are changing in higher education and the new creative, more tactile work that students are being asked to do.”

The Creative Engagement Wing is designed to foster hands-on learning, technical skills and collaboration, supporting UGA’s campus-wide Active Learning Initiative. According to Leah Carmichael, UGA’s director of active learning, the new space allows students to better develop foundational skills that today’s employers want, such as creative and analytical thinking, flexibility, leadership, collaboration and more.

“Students can go to the writing center and get help with a presentation, for example,” Carmichael said. “Then they can walk over to the presentation collaboratory and practice giving that presentation. A student could record a podcast then take it to the Digital Media Lab to edit it. We’re really excited about how these spaces are interconnected and can provide an enhanced experience for the student all in one spot.”

The wing is also helping break down barriers — making technology and creative tools more affordable and accessible. In the past, access to some tech tools was limited to specific majors. Now, any student with a creative idea can dive in.

“We want students to feel comfortable engaging with emerging technologies and for the barrier to entry to be low,” said Sara Wright, UGA’s associate university librarian for learning services and academic engagement. “Students can schedule consultations with our helpful staff or simply walk in and get started. Our goal is to help students build confidence with the technology while making these powerful tools accessible to everyone.”

“UGA is a big place, and students do their best to find their path,” Jones added. “If this gives them better tools and a way to find their passions in life, that is only a net good for the campus.”