Imagine walking into an empty room in August and starting to sweat because the temperature in the room is somewhere above 80 degrees. Within minutes, though, the thermostat indicates that the room temperature is a pleasant 76 degrees. Only you didn’t do anything. Instead the room “noticed” that someone came in — and adjusted the temperature itself.

Welcome to the new Student Learning Center at the University of Georgia-Griffin campus, where imagination has just become reality.

Two weeks ago, during a dedication ceremony for the $10 million building, officials praised its superb outside appearance that evolved over 16 months of construction. And Assistant Provost Gerald Arkin is still excited about the outcome.

“When I look at this building — the craftsmen that worked here did a remarkable job,” he said. “The brick work — they were meticulous about the detail.”

But wait. There is more.

Inside the 30,000-square-foot facility, students enjoy a mix of modern technology and simple practicality. The auditorium-type classroom near the main entrance can hold up to 130 students. It accommodates left-handed students and those with hearing aids. Teachers can control the lighting and board display through a touchscreen monitor.

And with the necessary setup already inside the walls, students could watch cable television to follow, say, a presidential speech in real time.

“We don’t have the demand for it yet, but we have it planned for the future,” said Wayne Harvester, computer specialist at the UGA-Griffin campus.

Another way to make the auditorium-type classrooms more practical was to elevate the back seat rows in height. That way, students sitting in the back of the classroom won’t feel as far away from the instructor as they would otherwise, said Physical Plant Director Dale Hess. “The rooms are pretty multi-functional,” he said.

In fact, the distant learning room, also on the lower level, allows students to interact through video conference with their fellow students in Athens, or any other place in the world.

In previous video conferences, students regularly complained that it was difficult to hear their counterparts, which led to the teacher having to repeat their questions and comments. The new learning center eliminated this problem by providing each student with a microphone.

As another feature of the distant learning room, four classes this semester are being recorded and then replayed hours later, with a teacher present to answer questions. This helps students better arrange their schedules when, for example, two classes they need to take start at the same time.

The upper level of the building gives students the means to process more in-depth what they’ve learned downstairs. A rest area, a student help desk, break-out rooms and a computer lab with 30 stations set the tone for student success.

“We have some of the fastest Internet connections you can get,” said Harvester.

All that’s left to be done at the Student Learning Center are the little things, said Harvester, as he walked to his office. As if proof was needed, his office door showed a number, but not his name yet.