Student Services Center

The Auburn Hills campus of Oakland Community College wanted to create a student services center that would attract, engage and retain more students to stay on campus. With over 6000 students commuting to school every day, they needed a place for them to hang out, socialize and make connections between classes. IDS has had a strong working relationship with OCC for over 20 years and was asked to create an energetic venue that could house a dining hall, tutoring services, student organization/meeting and study spaces, and social areas. The result was a brand new Student Center with a soaring social space that connected four existing structures together: two classroom buildings, the library and the bookstore.

Students are welcomed into the two-story space through an identifiable, central entry way and are immediately enveloped by upbeat patterns, shapes and colors that create energy and warmth. The spiral staircase and conical-shaped elevator tower make an additional statement about the overall vitality and connectedness of the Center, and the architectural metal trellises overhanging the seating areas create smaller, more intimate meeting spaces. Perforated wood walls shine with multi-color LED lights to create a sense of movement and energy in the space. The dining area has a bistro vibe to it.