Once again, the University of Iowa looks to revolutionize education.

Three semesters ago a professor and his students identified a problem with the standard classrooms of today. It wasn't the optimal setting for higher education. Looking for an answer they decided to create their own solution, the Classroom of the Future otherwise known as "the Space."

Floor plan of "the Space."

Award-winning, JPEC Professor Joseph Sulentic and his Social Entrepreneurship are leading the project. The class applies Sulentic's teaching philosphy of "Visualize. Strategize. Execute." The class of Spring 2017 kicked off the project. Professor Sulentic recalls, "In Spring 2017, we signed the lease. We had to figure out how to make everything work. Had to raise the money, everything."

Jason, a senior pursuing a Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management was a member of last spring's class. "We started it. We built what you see today" he commented on his involvement with "the Space." His friend Brady, another former Social Entrepreneurship student added, "It kind of made us entrepreneurs."

Aside from innovative, "the Space" promises to be economically and environmentally sustainable. The stage is configurable, it has been used as a stage as well as a runway. The furniture was brought in from a surplus store. The sound proofing material they are using to reduce the echo in the space is recycled from the most environmentally friendly carpet manufacturer in the world. Most importantly, the Space is committed to producing zero waste. Adam, a senior taking Social Entrepreneurship this semester says, "if a student wants to get a cup of coffee, they need to either bring their own mug or buy one from the Space." Of the five events held at "the Space" to date, all have been zero waste.

Sulentic gives a student a tour of "the Space."

"The Space" will undoubtedly have a great impact on the students taking classes in it but it's also had an impact on the students working on it. Shannon, another JPEC student this semester said, "[I'm] learning things that [I] didn't set out to learn. I never expected to learn anything about zoning." She described that the impact the Space has had on her education is like no other, "I saw an idea become a real life thing."

To get involved email thespaceic@gmail.com. For more information visit: https://www.thespace.education.

"The Space" is located on 287 N. Linn Street in Iowa City. You can be a part of the Classroom of the Future today.