May 5, 2023

Purdue Memorial Union Renovation awarded Gold by ASID WI

Photography Credit: Kevin Miyazaki

The American Society for Interior Designers (ASID) Wisconsin Chapter recently held its 2022 Design Excellence Awards Gala, where Workshop was honored to receive GOLD for the renovation of the Purdue Memorial Union. Erica Proefrock, who led the Workshop interiors team, graciously accepted the award on behalf of the firm.

Workshop's sensitive renovation of the ground floor of the historic Purdue Memorial Union transformed what had been a dimly lit, compartmentalized, and crowded half-basement space into a vibrant social hub. The new Atlas Family Marketplace features full-height windows and doors that open to south-facing outdoor terraces, numerous opportunities for collaboration and entertainment, and exciting new dining venues. The project uncovered hidden architectural artifacts and incorporated new environmental graphics that promote campus pride and welcome new students to the Boilermaker family. The planning team also pioneered new online planning tools to keep students involved despite the pandemic. 

Careful consideration was given to finish selections to ensure longevity, ease of maintenance, and thoughtful references to the history of the building. New terrazzo brightens the underground space and compliments existing terrazzo on other floors while a variety of porcelain tiles is used to differentiate lounge areas and different dining venues. The pinwheel pattern of the border tile is a scaled-up version of original tiles located on the main level, while a custom mosaic wallcovering nods to the ballroom upstairs by using icons significant to campus to recreate the damask motif. Custom designed academy tables and booths blend seamlessly into the space and are accented by classic Purdue logos.

To learn more about the project, click here.

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