Tech Students Restyle Dorm Rooms For Project

Some Tennessee Tech dorm rooms in New Hall North and Pinkerton Hall have a new look thanks to the university’s Interior Design students.

Associate Professor of Merchandising and Design Hannah Upole and Lecturer of Architecture and Interior Design Aerick Gunnels tasked their students with restyling showrooms in both dorms. Gunnels said the assignment is one way the university can prepare students for the interior design industry.

“They wanted them to be designed and styled and staged so that they can show potential students,” Gunnels said. “So that if they have VIPs or incoming freshmen they have these types of showrooms that they can show any types of students or their parents.”

Upole said students had a budget and a six-week timeline to restyle the rooms by adding things like coffee pots, small tables, and light fixtures to give the rooms an occupied look. Upole said she believes that redesigning the showrooms may be the difference in students choosing to attend Tech over another school.

“Campus experience is a huge part of it,” Upole said. “If you are moving away from home for the first time there are a lot of new things that you learn when you are living on your own for the first time and having a space that you really feel comfortable in is a huge part in a lot of student’s success in that first year.”

Gunnels said Tennessee Tech Provost Lori Mann Bruce had asked them to task students with restyling the showrooms as they needed to be updated. Upole said one of her students said the assignment was a task she had never experienced before.

“This is one of those things we love to do in our apartment is to bridge that gap between you know education and the so-called real world,” Gunnels said. “They are getting real-world experience by doing these types of projects that are just going to help them jump into a job.”

Upole said the assignment was not easy as students had to keep a record of everything they purchased and work with other groups to have different themes for each room. Upole and Gunnels both said the students took the challenge on and did a fantastic job.