NARRATIVE:
The furniture selection process for Ladue Horton Watkins High School was a thoroughly vetted and customized approach. It is not often that schools are afforded the opportunity to purchase all new furniture. My role was to lead the selection and design of the furniture, ensuring the product, layouts, and finishes met the client's needs and aligned with the overall building's design intent. Working with the furniture dealership and manufacturer reps, a variety of options were presented for all areas of the building. The school toured the dealership's showroom and saw firsthand the products they were purchasing. After initial selections were made, a presentation from KI (the main furniture manufacturer), allowed selected teachers from all disciplines to see the proposed products and better understand the features and benefits. Further exploration, including a mock-up classroom, was provided to the school. The furniture rotated between departments over a trial period of two months, and surveys were filled out regarding functionality and preference by teachers, students, staff and facility managers.
Each department was given the choice of chair and desk combination that would best suit their classroom needs. For student seating, most all departments selected the new Ruckus chair from KI. The innovative design promotes collaboration with a variety of ways to sit and gather. For desking, the math department elected flip top tables, with white board tops. English and social studies selected individual desks. Science utilized the KI Strive chair, which has a smaller footprint that allowed them to dedicate more space to lab work. The teacher desks, podiums and bookcases rounded out the classroom furniture selections.
The Versteel Quanta chair was selected for dining areas and in the Library Media Center. Its sleek design, flex back and integrated backpack hook were appealing features to the school. The Arcadia Leaf chair was selected for all soft seating in commons areas. Additionally, the Agati Pod provided individual study carrels in the Library Media Center. Hon workstations were used in all offices, providing a budget friendly and modern aesthetic. The University Fixed Seating from KI, with upgraded solid surface top, was selected to support the tiered function of the Teleconference Room. Dual tone Doni chairs provide comfort, durability and a modern look.
The primarily neutral interior finishes provide a coordinated backdrop for the school's colors to shine. Pops of "Ladue Blue” create a strong presence in the furniture design. It also compliments the select bold locations of accent wall colors. Wood tones were carefully coordinated across all areas, rounding out the design and providing warmth to the modern aesthetic.
Size: 123,048 SF New Construction
147,079 SF Renovation
Cost: $79.2 M
FFE Product Cost: $2.2 M
Graphics Package Cost: $350,000
Completion Date: Fall 2018
Roles: Lead Interior Designer
Programming through CA
Graphics Package
FF&E Product and Finish Selections
