DESIGNWORKS 2020

William Peace University / Telling The Story

Raleigh, NC

Ewing Cole

Our design team was challenged with maintaining the historic/formal nature of the Main building of this private university while providing a modern experience within it for prospective student and their families touring the campus. Symbolic elements within the university seal offered inspiration for several design details. To tell the story of Main in a simple yet impactful way, the design team reimagined the lobby as a gallery space. Hardwood floors with a custom in-laid bronze university seal and taupe and crisp white painted walls provide a backdrop for the custom-designed story wall. Key milestones and dates throughout the university’s 163-year history are etched in white solid surface bars. The wall-mounted bars, forming the outline of North Carolina, surround a recessed, edge-lit monitor displaying rotating content about university life.

Around the corner, the new Welcome Center provides a reception area and presentation room, further illustrating university life to prospective students. Simple yet significant details such as custom brochure racks and a custom digital-display wall flanked by a halo-lit logo with color-changing LED’s continue showcasing the university. A map of the US where prospective students can write their stories was an essential element for the client. The design team created a conceptual map of vertical writable magnetic panels organized by region and mounted on the exposed brick of the original building exterior wall. Markers and magnetic dots housed in custom wall-mounted bins allow students to tell their stories on the map and express how the university will help write their future.