The Mary Kawena Pukui Learning Commons is settling into the rhythm of campus life, with students filling its spaces throughout the day to study, collaborate, attend classes and spend time with friends.
Some settle into quieter corners with books and laptops, while others gather around tables to tackle group projects or catch up between classes. Indoor gathering areas and covered outdoor lānai give students room to shift between focused work and conversation, making the building a natural meeting place during the school day.
That activity extends into the classroom. In the Design, Technology and Engineering spaces, students are designing, building and testing their ideas through hands-on projects, while computer science classes explore coding and technology. In the Food Design Lab, students explore connections among food, culture, science and sustainability through hands-on experiences. Flexible classrooms and shared work areas make it easier for students and teachers to collaborate and move between discussion, experimentation and creation.
Throughout the day, students can stop at Carey Corner for fresh grab-and-go food and snacks, while the IT Help Desk offers a central place for technology assistance. Together, these everyday resources add to the steady flow of students moving through the building.
Just weeks into the school year, the Pukui Learning Commons is beginning to show what happens when a new building becomes a lived-in space. Students are finding favorite places to study, meeting up with classmates, working through projects and discovering new ways to use the building, making it a growing hub of activity and connection at Punahou.
Photos by Kathleen Connelly