Case Study Competition

Scenario
New England University (NEU) is preparing to build a new student union on campus. As
a part of this initiative, the university has asked your consulting firm to design the
student union. As members of the design team assigned to this project, you and your
team members have been asked by the Dean of Students to assist with designing a
building that cultivates a sense of community on campus. Several student support
offices (health center, career services, etc.) are currently housed in buildings that will be
demolished to make room for newer buildings. Your team must decide whether or not to
suggest to the Dean of Students to move student support offices into the student union.
If your team is in favor of this, you can incorporate these offices into the student union
design.

Demographics of NEU
Total Population: 10,000 students

Undergraduate students: 8,000 (80%)

Graduate Students: 2,000 (20%)

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Male: 5,500 (55%)
Female: 4,300 (43%)
Non-binary 50 (0.5%)
Chose not to identify: 150 (1.5%)

White: 7,000 (70%)

Black:1,500 (15%)
Latinx: 1,000 (10%)
Asian: 300 (3.33%)
Other: 200 (2%)

LGBTQIA+ Identifying: 500 (5%)

Commuters: 2,500 (25%)

Special Considerations
After reviewing data from a recent campus climate survey, the Dean of Students has
decided that a food pantry is needed and thinks that the student union is the perfect
place for it.

A diversity office currently exists on campus and the university administration would like
to move it into the new student union. There have been talks of separating the diversity
office into a multicultural center and a LGBTQIA+ center, each with their own
professional staff. In addition, the Black Student Organization is lobbying for a Black
Cultural Center in the student union that is separate from the main diversity/multicultural
office. If you grant this request, you know that other students may want additional
cultural centers for their identities. Consider the pros and cons of these different
arrangements.

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An initiative of the university is to make all new buildings more environmentally friendly.
To do this, you will need to research products and practices that could be implemented
in the new student union.

Tasks
1. Pick a name for your consulting firm.
2. Create a floor plan for your proposed design of the building.
3. Present to NEU’s Capital Projects Board (judges) on why your design meets the
needs of the campus community. Keep in mind the demographics of your
campus and the special considerations that have been brought up. You may find
it helpful to use the ACUI “Role of the College Union” as a guide. You will have 8
minutes to present, followed by 4 minutes of Q&A and feedback.

To justify your design choices, look up relevant research. Research can be from
scholarly journals, the ACUI Bulletin, or any other credible source. Use the ACUI
Research Agenda to guide your search.

You may use PowerPoint, Prezi, props, and anything else at your disposal to prepare
your presentation for the Capital Projects Board.

Guiding Questions
● What different spaces might appeal to introverts or extroverts?
● What different spaces might appeal to commuters or residential students?
● Will student support services (health center, career services, etc.) be in the
student union?
● Will student organizations have space in the student union?
● Will food be served in the building?
● What programming and meeting spaces will be available to be reserved?

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 ● How many floors will your building be?
● Will your design incorporate gender-neutral bathrooms?
● How can your student union demonstrate school spirit/institutional history?
● What lounges/gathering spaces will be available in the building? Will any be
dedicated to specific identities/affinities?
● Will there be recreational spaces (pool tables, bowling lanes, etc.) in the student
union?
● Do you envision some spaces being open late at night? For studying or events?
● Will any space in the student union be multipurpose? (Ex: A pub space could be
used to host performers, as a study space, or as a lounge.)
● How does lighting, furniture type and arrangement, ceiling height, etc. affect the
“atmosphere” of a space?
● Should NEU invest in amenities such as barber shops/hair salons, ATMs, a
mailroom, etc. for the student union, if such things may already be in the local
area?

Time Commitments
Saturday, November 23 at 8 AM - 8:45 AM: ​Case Study Introduction and Overview
Room: 338/340
Saturday, November 23 at 12:40 PM - 1:50 PM: ​Case Study Prep Time
Room: 338/340
Sunday, November 24 at 9 AM - 9:50 AM: ​Case Study Final Prep
Room: Theater I
Sunday, November 24 at 10 AM - 10:50 AM: ​Case Study Presentations
Room: Theater I

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