Transforming Oregon State University Residential Hall Spaces with MiEN Furniture

In 2022, Oregon State University (OSU) was seeking a furniture partner to help them transform the social spaces in four residence halls on campus: Poling Hall, Cauthorn Hall, Halsell Hall, and McNary Hall. By updating these spaces, OSU aimed to foster a sense of community and comfort for its students living on campus.

When OSU’s housing and dining services team began to consider the furniture options to refresh their residential common spaces, they turned to Saxton Bradley (SBI), one of MiEN’s dealer partners. Paul Barton, a higher education specialist at SBI, recognized the potential synergy between MiEN’s furniture line and OSU’s preferences and needs for the project.

OSU was facing the challenge of finding furniture that balanced durability and comfort but didn’t look as industrial as the typical furnishings used in higher education settings. The OSU housing team sought to create welcoming and vibrant spaces within the residential halls, evoking the feeling of being at home while still maintaining the necessary durability for high-traffic environments.

MiEN responded to this challenge by offering tailored solutions, providing detailed renderings with different fabrics, finishes, and color palettes for each residence hall. Our team also provided alternative options to fit within the school’s budget, while still ensuring the final pieces met OSU’s expectations for quality and function.

Some of the different areas MiEN furnished for OSU’s residential halls include:

Study Areas Featuring: Chameleon Square Chairs with tablet arms and Chameleon Square Poufs with laminate tops

Social Areas Featuring: Chameleon Square and Corner chairs and Chameleon Chaises, plus ACE Coffee Tables

Elevated Seating: with the STAR Café Stool and DIAL Tables

Stylish Lounging Areas Featuring: the BAY Lounge Chair

Cozy Couches: created by combining single-tone Chameleon Corner Chairs, at a custom 42” height

OSU was happy with the options that MiEN initially provided, and ultimately expanded their project in November 2023 to include further updates and additional units in Poling and Cauthorn Halls. The team at OSU was impressed by the furniture pieces they had previously ordered and wanted to “complete the space” with matching elements. This decision highlighted the satisfaction and positive impact MiEN’s furniture had already made on these university spaces.

A partnership with a reliable dealer partner is central to the success of any project, as well as meticulous attention to product details. MiEN was able to exceed OSU’s expectations with our commitment to staying within OSU’s budget, coupled with seamless delivery and installation, and ease of long-term maintenance of our furniture products.