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  • Gaelynn Pippin

    "I knew the only product that could sustain this level of activity mixed with the various challenges introduced and still achieve the aesthetic I sought was Powerbond."

    Gaelynn Pippin
    President
    Edge Design LLC
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Atrium Stairs

The College of DuPage faced a challenge for its newly constructed Health Careers and Natural Sciences Center that could only be solved with a designer’s ingenuity and a floorcovering that fulfills form and function. The building’s atrium, originally intended as a communal area for students, lacked warmth and was being underutilized.

Linu Strata II

In addition, the hard surface floor was more sterile than inviting. Gaelynn Pippin, President of Edge Design LLC, was tasked with creating a floorcovering design that would bring more life back into the space as well as address the challenges often experienced with educational facilities – high volume of foot traffic, acoustics and maintenance issues.

Linu Strata II

The concept for the space “to plant a seed and support its growth no matter where it may roam” was translated physically through the use of Powerbond® to create an abstract tree formation that spreads from the core of the atrium to the surrounding corridors. As a metaphor for the students’ potential in an innovative educational environment, the tree’s leaves and branches were strategically placed and interpreted as educational and professional growth opportunities in each new area or corridor.

Linu Strata II

The drop-down area under the atrium’s stairs is reminiscent of a pond and serves as a calming place for students to sit, while the stairs represent a conceptual waterfall as it connects the first and second floor design with aquatic hues.