OSU students redesign value place guest rooms
Thursday, March 18, 2010
“We created Value Place for small business owners, housing transitioners, and individuals
traveling and relocating on a budget,” said Gina-Lynne Smith, president of Value Place
Franchise Services and OSU graduate. “The goal of the redesign project is to create
a room that is truly functional for our long term guest, that is modern and appealing,
all while maintaining our unbeatably low weekly rates. The new room design must be
based around our guest’s needs, not around the needs of typical nightly hotel guests.”
In December, Melinda Lyon, OSU design, housing and merchandising assistant professor,
was contacted by Shayla Garibay, the marketing and communications manager at Value
Place.
“OSU’s design program was impressive, and after speaking with Melinda I was sure
the partnership would be successful,” Garibay said.
In January, students enrolled in Lyon’s DHM Interior Design Studio VI course began
working in teams on the project, incorporating designs to be retrofitted into current
Value Place rooms and to be used in all the company’s new hotels.
“The senior studio students were thrilled to have the chance to gain experience from
working with an actual client,” Lyon said. “They started working on the designs the
first week of this semester."
The students were given the company’s mission statement, background of the project,
thorough research, a budget, and vendor information to make informed decisions about
the project. The students also toured two Value Place properties in Oklahoma to plan
their design.
On Feb. 17, the groups traveled to the Value Place headquarters in Wichita, Kan.,
to present their ideas to company executives. Each team’s representative gave a 30-minute
presentation.
“The presentations were so well done and the presenters did a marvelous job,” Lyon
said. “The comments from the Value Place executives were positive, all commenting
that the students were very professional and well rehearsed, not to mention very knowledgeable
about their designs.”
Garibay said the executive team was impressed by the students’ creativity and commitment
to the project.
“The students and Melinda put a lot of time and dedication into this project,” she
said. “Their presentations were professional and polished. These seniors will make
a very smooth transition to the workforce and after a few years of practical experience
will be able to make their mark in the design world.”
Smith also was excited about the OSU students’ work.
“I am very proud and honored to be an OSU graduate today,” she said after hearing
the presentations.
The Value Place executives selected the winning team based on the project’s “fit
for client,” durability, functionality, design and budget. Garibay said there are
elements in each design that Value Place would like to incorporate in the final redesign
of the guest rooms.
“I could tell they were very pleased and very impressed,” Lyon said. “It was a difficult
decision for them.”
The first place team received a $2,500 prize and included Meagan Humbolt (Owasso),
Kerri Short (Edmond), Kelly Swaim (Edmond), Erin Courtney (Sapulpa), Emily Young (Tulsa)
and Cheryl Dillard (Stillwater). The second place team earned $1,500, the third place
team was awarded $1,000 and teams in fourth and fifth place received $250 per team.
“This was a great experience for the students,” Lyon said. “They were challenged
and really stepped up with designs that met the Value Place requests while keeping
the Value Place guests’ health, safety and welfare in mind in all their decisions.”