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When the Sensory Space opened at �첥��Ƶ Cortland Community College in February, organizers said it would evolve as it was used. Even at the time of the opening, they knew one of the evolutions coming – a mural designed and created as a class project. As part of a project that lasted all spring semester, Instructor Megan VanKanegan’s Painting I and Painting II classes (ART 115 and ART 116) designed and completed a mural on some of the wall areas of the Sensory Space.

VanKanegan started the project by having her students meet with Karen Rachetta, TC3’s coordinator of access and equity services, and the person who led the effort to create this space at TC3. “We began by meeting to understand the goals of the Sensory Space and the desired outer space theme,” said VanKanegan. “This project was a true collaboration. Each student came to class with individual sketches and ideas, which we refined together through group discussion and a voting process to ensure the final composition reflected the goals of the Sensory Space.”

Once supplies arrived, painting was done during class sessions, but a number of students completed additional decal paintings outside of class time. After the semester ended, VanKanegan completed the final details myself so the mural could be finished on time.

“Although the mural itself was not part of the original course design, it became an invaluable teaching tool,” said VanKanegan. “It offered students the chance to experience the challenges of a large-scale, collaborative project, to see how their individual ideas could merge into a cohesive vision, and to learn how to approach real-world client work.” 

Located in the Baker Commons, the Sensory Space provides a calm, welcoming environment featuring sensory-friendly elements like calming lighting, soothing sounds, fidget tools, and other resources aimed at reducing anxiety and fostering productivity. The Sensory Space is open and available to the campus community from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.