University of Delaware
Interior Renovations at Various Buildings
Various Interior Renovations to Create Flexible Space, Including Research Laboratories, Classrooms, Student Lounges, and Graduate Offices
Problem
Various Departments at the University of Delaware periodically create, update and/or relocate occupied spaces. These can be classrooms, laboratories, lounges, and offices. StudioJAED architects and interior planners face several challenges:
- Client Diversity: Working with various staff in different Departments in determining space requirements, configurations, and furnishings.
- Designing for Flexibility: Spaces and furniture need to be flexible in order to accommodate the changing and growing needs over several years.
- 21st Century Design: There is a need to incorporate new trends in space configuration, furniture, and technology, especially in classroom areas.
Solution
The StudioJAED team understands the need to adapt architecture and engineering to the requirements of individual staff and faculty members of differing University Departments. A solution that may work for one Department may not be adaptable or work for another. Thus, each space requires a separate “solution.”
The process included:
- Meeting with staff and faculty of each Department to fully understand their requirements for space, configurations, adjacencies, furniture requirements, and technology, including how the space is intended to be used now and in the future.
- Developing space and furnishing options in both 2-D and 3-D format to review with staff and faculty. Virtual Reality “walk-throughs” are used in order for staff and faculty to be fully immersed in the space and furniture configurations.
- Bringing furniture samples to the site for review by staff and faculty.
- Refining and finalizing the space design, space configuration, furniture choices, and technology required, and preparing drawings and specifications for public bidding.
Each space is unique and requires a unique perspective, both from an architectural and engineering point of view. The process utilized by the StudioJAED team insures that the end result is truly the result that is desired by the client.