Spark, Lipscomb's Idea Center, will celebrate its grand opening on Thursday, Nov. 8, from 5:30-7:30 p.m., at its location at 3252 Aspen Grove Dr. Franklin, 37067. The 6,400-square-foot Spark is Lipscomb’s first university-operated off-site facility, now open in the Cool Springs area in Williamson County.

The facility is designed to create an environment for innovative ideas in learning, business, faith and the community. A technology-rich facility, Spark offers flexible space and innovative delivery systems for Lipscomb graduate, adult learning and certificate students as well as for corporations and community organizations in the area who are looking for a meeting venue that encourages fresh thinking.

This fall, more than 76 students are enrolled across five academic programs, including graduate programs in business, information technology (IT), information security and marriage and family therapy in addition to a certificate program in behavioral studies in education. In January, additional cohorts in the graduate programs in IT and information security will be added along with a new master’s degree program in engineering management and several graduate education programs moving to the facility. Next fall, additional cohorts in graduate business and engineering programs will be added.

Spark is a multi-purpose space capable of accommodating various learning needs. It consists of three learning spaces, each accommodating 24 to 36 participants depending on group size needed. Walls may also be reconfigured to create one large space. The result is a flexible space for event and academic activities that can quickly accommodate a need as small as one-on-one meetings or as large as a 125-person lecture.

Additional spaces include a catering kitchen, a workspace area, a video conferencing room and two conference rooms along with a pre-function entry space that can be branded to participant use and is designed to hospitably welcome students, professionals and visitors.

“Spark represents the next generation of growth for the university as well as progressive thinking about education space. Spark is part of the university’s larger strategy to take innovative education and professional development opportunities to prospective participants in surrounding areas, offering them access to Lipscomb’s mission and purpose without them having to be physically located on our Nashville campus in Green Hills,” said Lipscomb President L. Randolph Lowry.

“It will enable Lipscomb to expand its academic programming and offer a convenient option that echoes the programming on the Nashville campus to residents and businesses in the Williamson County area as well. This site allows us to promote and grow our existing programs into a new market and provide a much-needed service to this region.”