MORTARR IN THE CLASSROOM
BY: ABBY MURRAY, CO-FOUNDER + CEO, MORTARR
The internet has, without question, changed the way the world works, and the commercial construction and design industry is no exception. While the industry is no stranger to technology when it comes to products, the use of technology when it comes to how they work has been almost foreign — until Mortarr. An inspiration gallery and networking platform exclusive to brick-and-mortar projects, Mortarr’s website is the first of its kind bringing together commercial professionals in an online space 100% dedicated to them.
In an imagery-dominated culture, the new decision makers leading the way on brick-and-mortar projects are begging for inspiration ahead of time, and demanding higher quality and greater efficiencies from the pros and products that bring the spaces to life.
Think stadiums, hotels, hospitals, coffee shops, conferences rooms, lobbies … you get the idea. Until Mortarr, the primary source of inspiration to build out these remarkable structures and spaces was costly, untimely trade publications, trade shows and trend shopping. Sourcing the products used within spaces? Next to impossible. And the hauling of endless loads of tile, carpet, and fabric samples was quite literally a heavy burden to carry.
Enter Mortarr, the platform that takes on all that heavy lifting. A browse, click, and hover brings users all the information they need to find, share and collaborate on inspiration, pros, and products — exactly what the new decision makers are looking for. These millennials taking over leadership seats are accustomed to technologies that push for more timely, cost-effective, and visually-inspired ways to work.
This same shift should be happening in the classroom. Mortarr set out to not only solve these problems for professionals, but to revolutionize an entire industry for the better. So, while we are partnering with some of the most awe-inspiring industry pros to share their beautiful buildings with the masses, we are also committed to sharing these innovations with the next generation of pros through our latest initiative – Mortarr in the Classroom.
THE ROLLOUT OF THIS INITIATIVE ENCOURAGES BOTH FACULTY AND STUDENTS TO USE MORTARR AS A RESOURCE IN THE CLASSROOM, STREAMLINING THE WAY MOST OF THEIR INSPIRATIONS FOR PROJECT AND COURSE WORK ARE SOURCED TODAY.
Previously fragmented by multiple sites, platforms, clunky collaboration, physical product samples and “pin up” boards, professors and students alike will now have the opportunity to leverage one single platform that digitizes the way they teach and learn. The developing initiative — free to adopting colleges — includes an all-access pass to thousands of inspiration photos of commercial structures and spaces across the country. And, possibly the most practical application for students, Mortarr in the Classroom provides unlimited use of Design Rooms™ for every participating student and faculty member. Here, students can collect and group inspirations, create digital “pin ups” or inspiration boards, spec products used within spaces, and collaborate online with other classmates or instructors.
As a proud alumna of Arizona State University, I am even more proud to call them our first adopter of Mortarr in the Classroom. Their Design School’s growth and development over the years, and the school's continuing commitment to innovations and the future world of design made them the perfect fit for this program. Marc Neveu, program head for the university’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts Architecture Program, introduced this emerging technology in September, asking students and faculty to begin testing out the platform as they look to shape the future of architecture and design in a more virtual environment.
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Texas Tech University is next on the list, as we warmly accepted their invitation to personally introduce the platform to students and faculty of their Design School on campus this October. Our team is also actively communicating with University of Minnesota’s design and architecture students and faculty as we look to grow the initiative right here in our own home state.
These technological advancements are so important to put into application in the classrooms early on as they help develop students for their futures. Mortarr welcomes this challenge and believes it is our social duty and responsibility to do so.
We are excited to not only provide this as a free resource for the future pros, but also look forward to a little R&D in the process as we gain fresh perspectives from the up-and-coming generation. May we learn as much from them, as they do from us.
To the future,
Abby Murray
