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

  • Indiana University Launches Capital Campus in D.C.

    Indiana University recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new IU Capital Campus in Washington, D.C., according to university news. The eight-story facility will provide a central hub for the university’s existing programs and business operations based in D.C., uniting them under one roof and providing the opportunity to expand.

  • University of Oklahoma Announces New Campus Master Plan

    The University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., recently announced that it will soon launch a new, comprehensive Campus Master Plan to guide the campus’ physical development during the next decade, according to a news release.

  • Rowan University, HPE Partner on New Learning Initiative

    Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J., recently announced that it has expanded its partnership with enterprise technology provider HPE to improve research capabilities and hands-on learning opportunities, according to a news release.

  • UTampa Breaks Ground on STEM Academic Facility

    The University of Tampa in Tampa, Fla., recently broke ground on one of its largest academic facilities ever, according to a news release. The Dickey Science Innovation Center will measure 153,000 square feet and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.