USC’s West 27th Place is a LEED Platinum Certified apartment community near USC that provides a welcoming, healthy, and cheerful environment for students. The objective was to create an innovative multi-use student space, creating a learning and relaxing environment with comfortable living areas, group and private study spaces, and functional offices for staff and onsite management. Students who live here can do everything they’d do while not in class.
As the West 27th Place page says, “Live here. Live well. Live at West 27th Place for the ultimate college experience.”
Welcoming Entry Hall for Innovative Multi-Use Student Space
The ultimate college experience required a sophisticated and welcoming entry space. It also was designed to move residents, staff and visitors further into the facility, eliminating bottlenecks at the entrance. To achieve this, the rather small space is furnished with the Haworth Poppy Lounge chair on a basket base. A quirky but fun table, the Bong from Haworth, looks like marble but is made from highly durable resin. The minimalist table lamp evokes a post-industrial look with its bare LED incandescent-look bulb.
Inviting Lounge Space Encourages Students to Socialize
Just beyond the entry hall, is an especially inviting and comfortable lounge area. Here, people can sit and relax while waiting for someone or socialize with a small group before going their separate ways. Haworth furniture fills the space, using the same Poppy chairs with basket base to match the entry hall. The Openest sofa, a multi-purpose ottoman and ChicPouf Convertible chairs complete the main gathering area. The unique ChicPouf chairs can easily be turned into ottomans for a variety of seating and gathering options. Bright colors, a vibrant rug, an architectural wall/ceiling treatment and more custom light fixtures bring the space to life. Long-wearing and cleanable fabrics and finishes capable of standing up to high traffic and constant use are used throughout.
California Eclectic Staff Offices – Clean, Uncluttered and Cool
The designer wanted to showcase a California Eclectic Style, especially in the offices. To pull this together, the designer turned to Los Angeles-based DeskMakers for the desks in these staff working areas. The clean, uncluttered lines are a perfect counterpoint to the custom light fixtures. A custom laminate matching the desk finish was used on the built-in casework, the Convergence Casegoods from DeskMakers. Desk and guest chairs are Sit on It.
Loungy Student Cafe and Social Space Helps Students Unwind or Relax
As part of the innovative multi-use student space, the designer included a cafe and social gathering space to encourage students to get together and socialize. Or to simply sit and reflect. The overall feel is loungy, conducive to relaxing and unwinding. A built-in sofa along the back wall features pillows fronted with tables to accommodate larger groups. The freestanding Torrey tables by DeskMakers with their stackable Mika chairs from Sit on It, allow for more traditional cafe-style seating. Bold wall treatments and floor-to-ceiling windows make the space lively and bright.
Pacific Office Interiors Understands Innovative Multi-Use Student Space Design
Nothing reflects the changing face of the college experience better than the emergence of innovative multi-use student spaces. If you want to learn how to implement a space at your college, contact us, call 818.735.0333 or email us at hello@poi.bz to speak with one of our design pros about furniture and design for educational spaces.
Project Team: Design – Level Up Interiors, Photography – Lane Dittoe
