Chapman Swenson Family Hall of Engineering
Innovative spaces + cutting-edge technology for a forward-thinking department
Understanding what drives the need for change
Chapman University needed to transform its vision for engineering education into physical reality. The university had allocated 31,000 square feet within the existing Keck Center for Science and Engineering to house the new Swenson Family Hall of Engineering, but the space required a complete interior transformation across three floors. The challenge extended beyond typical academic design—Chapman wanted to create an inclusive social hub where innovative thinking could flourish and ideas could cross-pollinate between faculty and students.
At the project's heart lay the Design/Create/Innovate Lab, a makerspace requiring flexible, adaptable design to support everything from quiet experimentation to large presentation events. The space needed to accommodate diverse functions across its three levels: a collaborative student area with an 'ideation path' on the first floor, labs and research pods on the second, and dedicated faculty workspaces on the third. Each floor demanded different solutions while maintaining cohesion throughout the entire facility.
How we brought the vision to life
Tangram partnered with architecture firm AC Martin to design environments that would reflect Chapman's forward-thinking engineering philosophy. The team recognized that traditional educational furniture wouldn't serve this innovative program, instead selecting pieces typically found in creative workspaces. The Steelcase Mackinac desk system became a centerpiece, establishing microzones within open areas while maintaining the residential-inspired aesthetic the university desired.
Every furniture selection carried intentional purpose, supporting the diverse ways people would use these spaces. Collaborative huddle areas featured Steelcase media:scape tables paired with Shortcut chairs and screen displays for seamless technology integration. Steelcase Brody workstations provided necessary privacy within social open areas, while Hightower Kilo lounge pieces offered comfortable respite between the intensity of classrooms and labs. The design strategy emphasized adaptability through modular elements and operable partitions that could transform spaces based on immediate needs.
5 solutions from 1 manufacturers
Gesture
Gesture redefines the relationship between you and your desk chair. Voted best office chair, its 360-degree arms, contoured back and adjustments are designed for all the ways technology shapes your posture.
Node
Node school chairs are highly mobile —a quality that translates directly into classroom performance. After all, a lesson plan can be carried out more effectively when seating is arranged and rearranged effortlessly.
Think
The Think chair is an ergonomic office chair that senses what your body needs. The Integrated LiveBack™ System conforms to your body and moves with you as you change postures. It features an advanced weight-activated seat, so anybody can get comfortable, quickly.
Gesture
Gesture redefines the relationship between you and your desk chair. Voted best office chair, its 360-degree arms, contoured back and adjustments are designed for all the ways technology shapes your posture.
Node
Node school chairs are highly mobile —a quality that translates directly into classroom performance. After all, a lesson plan can be carried out more effectively when seating is arranged and rearranged effortlessly.
2 professionals brought this vision to life
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