Case Study
University of Wisconsin-Madison

Overview
TRANSFORMED UNDERUTILIZED SPACE WITH Outdoor Furniture
We worked with the University of Wisconsin-Madison to help them address an underutilized space on their campus. The outdoor area of UW’s Union South serves as a multi-purpose gathering space for students, faculty, and the community. The current space lacked adequate seating and was not comfortable for longer events.
Discovery
- Underutilized patio space
- Lacked adequate seating
- Uncomfortable for events
After a campus visit to survey the space and learn more about how students and the University use the outdoor area, and hearing more about their pain points and goals, our ideation team went to work in conceiving the best solution to address their needs.
Concept
Our design team put together a site plan that improved on the existing layout, withstood the Union’s high traffic demands, and transformed it into an inviting gathering space.
- Improve existing layout
- Stand up to the Union's high traffic demands
- Ability to transform into an inviting gathering space
Visualization
To enhance the comfort of the space, provide a gathering area for students, and increase the flexibility of the outdoor area, our design team incorporated high-top tables with bench seating, stools, and comfortable deep seating. The natural wood grain of the tables and chairs, along with the cushions and two-tone color combination matched Union South’s outdoor aesthetics.
The Results
The space has become a student favorite for gathering between class, eating a meal, and holding study groups. With the outdoor furniture in place, it’s now a desirable and flexible location for groups to rent and host events.
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