Geoffrey H. Radbill Center for College and Life Design
Bowling Green State University
A New Life Design Program
Bowling Green State University (BGSU) has become a national leader in supporting student success. SSOE was enlisted as a critical partner in this initiative, designing a home for the Geoffrey H. Radbill Center for College and Life Design. Located in the heart of campus, the facility and program is available to all undergraduate students, helping create a dynamic, collaborative, and functional home where students work along with Life Design coaches as they take a creative approach to enhancing their college experience and lay a networking foundation for their future careers.
A Highly Inclusive And Collaborative Project Process
To ensure our design fully met the program’s needs, we immersed ourselves in the concept of ‘Life Design’, researching other similar programs in the country, and enhanced those models to develop a uniquely BGSU Life Design environment. Branding the vision of Life Design for students was key. Words describing the tenants of the program appear in large letters emerging from the walls of the new space. The interior architecture is centered around a radical collaboration space, an active zone that adapts to the needs of individual, small group and large group work. Passive zones for private study and coaching, along with a coaches suite form the backdrop of this interactive zone. Perched on the third floor, coaches and students are provided a bird’s-eye-view of a tree-laden quadrangle. Life Design is strategically located at a highly pedestrian traveled intersection of the Academic Core and Technology Core. An exclusive all-glass entry off of the quadrangle was created to guide students, day or night, to the new home of Life Design.
