Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Technology Branded

  • 10/01/15
Bookstore

Bookstore

RENDERINGS COURTESY OF LEGAT ARCHITECTS

Located in the heart of one of the world’s great cities, the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) is a vital part of the educational, technological and cultural fabric of the region. As Chicago’s only public research university with 28,000 students, 15 colleges, a hospital and a health sciences system, UIC provides its students with access to excellence and opportunity.

Integrated into a redesign undertaken earlier this year, a bright red “portal” just inside the UIC Bookstore now catches the eyes of passersby along Halsted Street. That portal leads to the revived UIC Bookstore where tablets, laptops and phone accessories gleam beside textbooks, stationery and UIC-branded clothing. Construction on the 3,000-square-foot renovation transformed the old bookstore into a vibrant new space. The facelift, designed by Legat Architects, brings to center stage the devices and digital media that have become an indelible part of students’ lives.

Vuk Vujovic, Legat Architects’ project manager, says, “The goal was to create a bright, modern, streamlined environment reflective of the technology-infused aesthetics that you’d find in a high-end retail environment.”

A low glass railing defines the space, while creating a subtle partition within the otherwise open store. High-end technology products, previously restricted to a couple tables pushed against a wall, have been moved front and center with display cases, power tables and accessory kiosks.

Grays and whites dominate the color scheme, while red accents appear in the portal and furnishings. Luxury vinyl tile flooring resembling concrete replaces tired carpet, and more efficient lighting brightens to space.

Flat screens cover the back technology wall. This collaboration zone offers tables and seats, as well as a red soft seating furniture element with countertops built into its back. Here, students and faculty can project their devices onto the wall, or UIC staff can use the area for training sessions.

Completed in September, the UIC bookstore redesign is open for business on the university’s busy campus.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • UT System Board of Regents Approves $108M Housing Complex

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently announced the approval of a new, $108-million housing complex at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), according to a news release. The facility will stand four stories and have a total of 456 new beds for freshmen students.

  • Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, OR

    Preserving Legacy, Designing for the Future

    As historic academic buildings age, institutions face a difficult decision: preserve and adapt or demolish and rebuild. How do we honor the legacy of these spaces while adapting them to meet the needs of modern learners?

  • California School District Completes Elementary School Modernization

    The San Diego Unified School District in San Diego, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting for a whole-site modernization of Pacific Beach Elementary School, according to local news. The school first opened with one building in 1930 and added six more between 1938 and 1957.

  • Wisconsin District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The School District of La Crosse in La Crosse, Wis., recently broke ground on a new elementary school that will consolidate the students and staff of two existing schools, according to local news. Funding for the school comes from a $53-million referendum approved in 2024.