Doerfler Innovation Center

Doerfler Innovation Center

To prepare students for the ever-evolving and increasingly interdisciplinary working world, Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) sought to strategically craft ‘pockets of innovation’ throughout its campus to activate and instill an entrepreneurial mindset in its students. A foundational project in this initiative, the Doerfler Innovation Center is a visible, dedicated space for hands-on projects, proof-of-concept work, and business incubation where students learn to think critically, problem-solve creatively, and work collaboratively. Its variety of micro-environments support different learning and teaching modalities, empowering students and educators to create, collaborate, and innovate.

Located on the lower level of the Monninger Center for Learning and Research at the heart of FDU’s Florham Campus, the Doerfler Innovation Center is a project-based learning environment and hub for inquiry and innovation. Flexible micro-environments featuring reconfigurable furniture offer students and educators with variety and choice for group work, full-class discussion, and/or individual work. A folded ceiling design creates niches along the back of the space where students can gather and collaborate. Transparency, color, and a combination of natural and controllable artificial lighting create a welcoming, motivating atmosphere where learning is on display. In just 1,100 sf, this transformational project bolsters FDU’s academic excellence with strategic consideration for future growth.