The Ohio State University, Knowlton School of Architecture

What drove the change?

The construction of this facility would bring architecture, landscape architecture, city and regional planning under one roof for the first time in 50 years. The plan was based on the integration of elements: inside and out, students and faculty, old and new, school and university, art and technology. The design represented the school’s mission of excellence in education, innovation in design and planning, and the stewardship of a quality environment.

This new facility reflected a very raw, minimalist design aesthetic…one that would showcase the student’s work and create a highly personalized environment. In order to complete the story, the furniture needed to follow the theme created by the architecture.

“We couldn’t find a standard product solution that reflected the architecture,” explains Suzanne Toney, project manager. “That’s why we started looking at custom product.”

What were the design requirements?

As the facility team members looked at furniture options, they evaluated all of them against a specific list of requirements:

• Identify a furniture solution that would complement the architecture.
• Find furniture that was extremely flexible and could be easily moved.
• Create a solution that was distinct, simple, sleek and functional.
• Accommodate 500+ students in a very constrained space. Every inch mattered.
• Select quality product that could withstand heavy use.

What was the solution?

The Knowlton School of Architecture chose Bold Furniture over several other options. “One of our goals in building a new school of architecture was to illustrate to our students, prospective students and the University the value and impact of quality design and craftsmanship,” says Rob Livesey, Director of the Knowlton School of Architecture. “The custom furniture supplied by Bold was an integral part of that vision”

The furniture accomodates team work and indivdual study. It also allows students to work in a variety of media. “Our students engage in many forms of creative work,” says Livesey. “They use computuers, but they also build models and create drawings. The furniture facilitates all these kinds of work.”

“We felt very good about the service we received,” continues Livesey. “And we are confident that we will continue to receive the same excellent service in the future.”