# USC Village: How Modern Educational Design Creates Community and Collaboration
The University of Southern California's ambitious USC Village project demonstrates how thoughtful furniture selection and space planning can transform the educational experience. This $700-million development, spanning 1.25 million square feet across six buildings, represents the largest construction project in USC's history and offers valuable insights for commercial designers working in the education sector.
## A New Model for Campus Living
USC Village houses 2,500 students in a design inspired by medieval Tuscan villages, complete with retail spaces, restaurants, and residential colleges. The project reflects a growing trend in higher education: creating integrated living-learning environments that extend education beyond the traditional classroom.
Tangram Interiors partnered with architectural firm Harley Ellis Devereaux to furnish the development's common areas, focusing on spaces that would naturally encourage student interaction and collaboration.
## Designing for Student Behavior
The furniture selection process began with extensive student testing in existing USC spaces starting in 2013. This research-driven approach revealed key insights about how students actually use their spaces:
- **Flexibility is essential** - Students constantly rearrange furniture throughout the day based on their immediate needs - **Variety supports different learning styles** - Multiple seating options accommodate various postures and work preferences - **Informal spaces matter** - Students need places to "hang out" that feel inviting rather than institutional
## Strategic Space Planning
Tangram furnished diverse areas throughout the village:
- **Lobbies** designed as welcoming transition spaces - **Multi-purpose rooms** that adapt to different group sizes and activities - **Individual and group study rooms** with moveable furniture arrangements - **Outdoor areas** that extend learning spaces beyond building walls - **Dining halls** featuring custom Gothic-style seating and stained-glass windows
## Current Trends in Educational Design
The USC Village project reflects several important shifts in educational facility design:
### **Community-Centered Layouts** Rather than isolating different functions, the design integrates residential, academic, and commercial spaces to create a true community environment.
### **Adaptable Furniture Systems** Moveable, reconfigurable furniture allows spaces to serve multiple functions throughout the day, maximizing utility in expensive campus real estate.
### **Student-Tested Solutions** The five-year research and testing process demonstrates the value of involving end users in design decisions, leading to higher satisfaction and better space utilization.
### **Mixed-Use Development** Combining student housing with retail and dining creates vibrant, 24/7 environments that feel less institutional and more like real neighborhoods.
## Lessons for Commercial Designers
The USC Village project offers several takeaways for professionals working on educational and workplace design:
**Research actual user behavior** before making furniture selections. What looks good on paper may not match how people actually work and learn.
**Plan for constant reconfiguration** by choosing furniture systems that are lightweight, durable, and easy to move.
**Create variety within unity** by offering multiple seating and working options while maintaining a cohesive design aesthetic.
**Think beyond individual spaces** to consider how different areas connect and flow together throughout the day.
## The Bigger Picture
With nearly 800 jobs created and a footprint that increased USC's campus by almost one-third, USC Village demonstrates how thoughtful design can have impacts far beyond aesthetics. The project shows how furniture selection and space planning contribute to educational outcomes, community building, and economic development.
As educational institutions continue evolving to meet changing student needs, projects like USC Village provide a roadmap for creating environments that truly support learning, collaboration, and community. The key lies in understanding that great design starts with understanding how people actually use spaces—not how we think they should use them.
