High Performance Furniture Design for Historic College Campus
Flagler College, a higher learning institution located in historic St. Augustine, FL, is a coastal campus steeped in history, community, and academic programs advancing students into entrepreneurial, thoughtful, and well-rounded citizens. Once a hotel, Flagler College has provided rich, comprehensive liberal arts education for over fifty years, preserving its original Spanish Renaissance architecture.
In partnership with PQH Group, a full-service commercial design firm, Perdue curated a furniture solution for Flagler’s notable Ponce De Leon Hall, residential halls, study lounges, and dormitory common areas. Flagler aimed to enhance the architectural heritage of the spaces while improving performance for high traffic areas.
The project intertwined furniture and finishes with an old-world style that compliments the space’s aesthetic. As North Florida’s leading office interior designers, Perdue acquired a selection of transitional design concepts presenting fluidity across diverse spaces. Given a strict timeline, procuring the collection of products was met with supply chain delays, plus Flagler’s ongoing renovation introduced installation challenges.
Perdue helped maneuver around roadblocks and the construction schedule by providing short-term warehousing and delivering and installing in multiple phases. To aid in long-term use, Perdue draped the furnishings in high performance textiles and applied additional protection on the woven fabrics.
“Perdue was instrumental in our approach to designing an environment that was complimentary with the historic character of the building while keeping the scope of the project within budget,” said Ricardo E. Quinones, PQH Group President, and Director of Design. “The result is an eclectic well balanced mix of historically themed furniture along with more practical and comfortable contemporary pieces to enhance the student experience.”
“Perdue helped us accomplish our vision of providing our students with a space that is historically elegant, inviting, and functional,” said Laura Stevenson Dumas, Flagler College Vice President, and Chief of Staff. “The service Perdue provides regarding installation is exceptional. We were very pleased with their commitment to service excellence. Our students are thrilled with the way the Mezzanine turned out.”
Lounges, nooks, and study rooms featured in the design were furnished using Montara650 and Circa Lounge seating, Hobsen lounge seating and Collette chairs, and other premium products. Select items from Blu Dot’s Jibe Collection also provided a comfortable setting for Flagler’s outdoor spaces.
