Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

A New Design for a Campus Hub

  • 06/01/16
Johnson Commons West dining area

Johnson Commons West, a central meeting place on the University of Mississippi’s campus, was renovated to reflect the school’s spirit and aesthetic. Falcon seating played an important role in regard to comfort and style in the new dining space during the redesign.

As home to the University of Mississippi’s main campus dining location, student services, catering and dining administration offices — and with its more than 50-year presence — Johnson Commons West serves as a high-visibility, high-traffic facility. Recently completed renovations, including modernization and expansion of the 50,000-square-foot, two-story west wing, significantly enhanced the facility’s circulation paths, building operations and visual presence.

“A key directive was to seamlessly incorporate the design of the new space into the historic campus,” says Ashley Sullivan Hawthorne, NCIDQ, interior designer, Tipton Associates.

The university’s aesthetic, colors and signage are represented throughout the building. Contemporary components include skylights that bring natural light into the center of the building and white, translucent ceiling clouds, while columns from the original building became an interior feature that serves as a reminder of campus history.

Dining remains one of the primary services provided within Johnson Commons West and spaces on both floors were similarly refreshed as part of the renovation.

J11 series café tables from Falcon were selected for both floors. A customized edge was added to the tables in keeping with the design of the space, while the steel base provides durability necessary to accommodate large numbers of students.

“As we prepared to bring our design concepts to life, furniture was an essential element in supporting the overall aesthetic and providing a comfortable dining experience,” says Hawthorne.

The residential dining area includes seating for 800 with seating for 100 provided in the retail dining section. Falcon seating is featured throughout both floors, including Lucky chairs in the school’s colors on the first floor and R843 metal side chairs with dark walnut seat and coordinating barstools in the marketplace.

Renovation of Johnson Commons West received an IDEA Award of Recognition for Renovation/Historic Preservation from the IIDA Delta Regional Chapter.

www.falconproducts.com

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • 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.

  • UT System Approves First Funds for New Campus

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently approved funds to build the first facility of a new campus in far west Fort Worth, Texas, according to university news. UTA West will serve as a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington and is scheduled to open in fall 2028.

  • Stanford Completes Construction on Graduate School of Education Facility

    Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., recently announced the end of construction on a new home for its Graduate School of Education, according to a news release. The university partnered with McCarthy Building Companies on the 160,000-square-foot project, which involved two major renovations and one new construction effort.

  • Northeastern University Breaks Ground on New Housing Community

    Northeastern University recently announced the groundbreaking of a new student housing community on its campus in Boston, Mass., according to a news release. The university is partnering with American Campus Communities (ACC) for development of the project, which will have the capacity for 1,200 students and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.