University Village Apartments, University of Minnesota
University Village Apartments
A Modern Sense of Arrival
PROJECT SNAPSHOT
Client
University Village Apartments — University of Minnesota
Location
Minneapolis, Minnesota (University of Minnesota campus)
Space Type
Student apartment complex — West Lobby renovation
Scope
Design-forward renovation of the West Lobby in a university-owned student apartment complex — transforming a narrow, column-heavy space into a modern sense of arrival with two distinct lounge zones, a built-in bench system, durable student-proof materials, and a bold architectural statement, all within a modest university budget. Phase II East Lobby planned.
THE SPACE BEFORE
Years of operation had left the lobby feeling tired and disjointed. The architecture was unusual — a narrow space interrupted by a complex layout of structural columns, with a second-floor view looking down into a lobby that had been treated in a patchwork of styles over time. The result felt dated and confusing from every angle. Tired oak doors and trim, mismatched finishes, and no real gathering space for the students who called the building home. For an economical housing option, the lobby had become the first impression nobody was proud of.
THE DESIGN DIRECTION
The university wanted a meaningful upgrade to the student experience — a lobby that felt modern, welcoming, and functional — without the budget a full gut renovation would require. The priorities were clear: create areas where students could sit and gather, maintain easy passage for the semester move-in and move-out cycles that bring furniture and boxes through the lobby, and make the space feel wider and more balanced despite its narrow, column-driven layout. Every material had to survive student life. And every design decision had to earn its place on a university budget.
WHAT WE WORKED WITH (AND AROUND)
Oak trim and doors that weren’t going anywhere. There was no budget to replace the existing oak doors and base trim. Instead of fighting them, we designed around them — selecting a hybrid flooring material with a color range that referenced the existing oak, updating the look without replacing the bones. A complementary color palette was built to work with the burgundy painted trim, which was in good condition and worth keeping. The palette didn’t ignore what was already there. It made it look intentional.
A bold blue wall that changed everything. The unusual lobby architecture had been treated inconsistently over the years — resulting in a space that felt stitched together rather than designed. We took a broader stroke: a simple architectural addition paired with clean recessed lighting created a frame for a deep, saturated blue accent wall. That one move anchored the entire lobby. The color draws the eye deeper into the space, making the narrow footprint feel wider and more balanced. From the second floor looking down, the lobby finally reads as one cohesive room instead of a collection of decisions made in different decades.
Columns everywhere — and a rug trick that broke the grid. The column layout made conventional furniture placement nearly impossible. Rows of structural columns divided the narrow lobby into awkward zones that fought against any standard arrangement. We designed two distinct lounge areas for student groups, then pushed past the confinement of the columns by setting the rug layouts at an angle. That single move altered the perception of the space — your eye follows the diagonal instead of the column grid, and the lobby suddenly feels like a room designed for people instead of a corridor with columns in the way.
A built-in bench that thinks about move-in day. We added a wall-length built-in bench for convenient landing spots along the lobby — a place to sit, wait for a friend, or set down a bag. But here’s the detail that matters: the bench was designed to fade into the columns at the front and back doors. Why? Because every semester, hundreds of students haul furniture through this lobby. Exposed furniture corners at entry points get destroyed. Integrating the bench ends into the columns protects the investment and keeps the lobby looking sharp year after year.
Student-proof everything. Durability wasn’t a nice-to-have — it was the starting point for every material decision. The LVP flooring is a high-traffic product. The inset carpet “rugs” that define the lounge zones are fabricated from walk-off carpet tile — replaceable in sections if damaged. Cushions and furniture are wood and vinyl: easy to clean, hard to break. The materials look good and will keep looking good through years of student life.
THE OUTCOME
Walk into the West Lobby at University Village and the first thing you notice is the blue wall pulling you in. The space feels wider, more balanced, and more intentional than the narrow column grid has any right to allow. Two lounge zones give students a reason to linger. The angled rugs and built-in bench make the architecture work for people instead of against them. And every surface is ready for another decade of move-in days, late-night study sessions, and daily traffic.
The residents and management team are delighted with the result — enough that a Phase II East Lobby counterpart is already planned. For a project built on a modest university budget, the awards tell the story: this lobby competed against projects at every price point and came out on top. Proof that smart design decisions and a clear point of view matter more than the size of the check.
RECOGNITION
Best in Show, Commercial — ASID Minnesota
First Place, Commercial/Industrial — ASID Minnesota