Students to pick library furniture

By Allison Asahina
The Collegian

Sitting in her makeshift chair, Katrina Jacques’s back is starting to hurt. The stepstool she found in the south wing of the Henry Madden Library is not quite the furniture piece she thought it would be.

Students who share the same sentiments about functionality and the comfort of furniture will have a say about what will be used in the new addition to the library.

Demolition on the $95 million project is expected to be completed in fall 2008.

Sydney Jackson, the communications coordinator for facilities planning, said furniture is still being set up appropriately in University Center 200, located above the Round Table Pizza.

Eventually students will be able to test-drive the furniture that is being considered for the new library.

“Students will be able to sit in and use the furniture the way they would in the library,” Jackson said.

“We want to find which is the best product, the most comfortable and most preferred.”

For Jacques, a fifth-year exercise science major, comfort is all that concerns her.

“I don’t care what it looks like, just as long as it is comfortable and [there are] lots of them.”

Jacques, who frequented the recently torn-down section of the library, had some concerns with the furniture, or lack thereof.

“Well, there was more, but it is still like sitting on concrete,” Jacques said. “It hurts my butt.”

Interior design instructor Kim Baumbauer would like to see several areas addressed with the new furniture.

“I would expect it to be durable, functional, and comfortable,” Baumbauer said. “It should also support the style and character of the architecture.”

While keeping design in mind, Baumbauer hopes the university will use environment-friendly furniture and local vendors.

She would like to see the old furniture recycled in a way other than just throwing it in a landfill.

Krystal Hernandez, a sophomore interior design major, is more focused on the aesthetics of the furniture.

“It should be something colorful, too boring gets me sleepy,” Hernandez said. “Certain colors, like primary colors, give energy.”

Hernandez has relaxing as a prerequisite for the furniture.

“A comfortable chair would be nice, maybe something that reclines so it gives good posture.”

Along with getting a feel for what the students would like when studying, Jackson also hopes to see which furniture pieces will stand the test of time.

“The students will be able to move the furniture around like they would when they are studying,” Jackson said. “When the furniture is being sat in and moved around, we will get to see which brand wears better.”

Jackson would like for everything to be available by the spring semester. “It will be set up and ready to go hopefully in the beginning of the year,” Jackson said.

Whenever the furniture is ready to be tested, Jacques will probably be the first one in line.

“It’s been five years and my butt has been sore ever since,” Jacques said.

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