MU’s Technology Lounge mimics corporate office trends

With computer labs so confining and Ellis Library lulling people to sleep, University of Missouri-Columbia students had been looking for a study sanctuary with adequate meeting space and a tech-friendly feel.

Enter the Technology Lounge, a realm ready for the digital world and suitable for all the techie Tigers–and a space that puts the “fun” into “functional.”

The 1,740-square foot Technology Lounge, located in Center Hall at the corner of Providence and Stadium, opened in August 2006. The lab puts a student-savvy spin on a corporate office custom by featuring an abundance of individual workstations, Internet access, computers, scanners, printers and conferencing areas.

“The space was created to facilitate a living and learning environment for students,” said Kenna Weber, the university’s senior interior designer. “It’s more than a computer lab; it’s really a group work area. We have multiple computer labs on campus, but this lab is different in that it offers students soft seating, so they can lounge a bit away from the computers, and seating capacity for larger group projects.”

Melissa Huff, a former interior design student at MU who graduated this year, assisted Weber in designing the lounge for the University Division of Information Technology.

“It was easy for me to relate to the client because it was me,” Huff said. “As a student it was very rewarding to have the real-life opportunity to design this space for myself and my peers.”

While choosing the furniture, the team had to focus on finding commercial-rated products that met university standards in smoke density, durability, and clean-ability. They were also seeking something that was visually interesting, comfortable and along the lines of current trends, so that students would be enticed to use the lab.

“The tech lounge has made getting together for group projects much more comfortable and convenient,” said MU senior Beth O’Hara. “It’s nice not having to cram six people around a computer space made for one, or worry about disturbing others trying to study around you.”

Weber first fell for Bretford’s Free and Liquid furniture lines at the 2006 NeoCon annual international design trade show in Chicago. After choosing the designs, the university went through local distributor Smart Business Interiors to purchase and install the furniture and equipment.

“One of the objectives in this project was allowing the students to adjust themselves and configure the space to meet their needs,” said Bill Schuette of Smart Business Interiors. “This particular style of furniture has caught on in higher education settings around the nation. There’s a lot of flexibility built into it.”

He said an important aspect of the technology-focused furniture is that the computer can be self-contained and serviced easily from an IT standpoint. Schuette also believes that the tech-feel of the furniture attracts students.

“The ‘tech lounge’ is trending upward, not only with the universities and dorms, but companies are also doing the same type of thing to encourage employee attraction and retention,” Schuette said. “The faster technology changes, the more people have to upgrade their skills and have a decent place to do this.”

Smart Business Interiors has seen a the most significant rise in this trend in the insurance and health care industries, and has provided the installation of technology-friendly furniture for Missouri Employers Mutual, Boone Hospital Center and University Hospital.