Tulane Business School Innovation Lab
Tulane University
Client: Tulane University
Role: Architecture, Interior Design, Furnishing Specification
Scope: Renovation of existing underutilized locker area and break room into collaborative innovation lab for small group meeting and large presentations.
Status: Complete 2024
Size: 2,200 sq. ft.
Budget: $660,000
Collaborators: Synergy Consulting Engineers, Mayer Building Company
An incubator for business entrepreneurship and innovation
Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business is developing an innovation lab for entrepreneurial students as an incubator for venture development, mentorship, and networking events. The newly renovated space will feature a collaborative and flexible classroom / meeting space, multiple conference rooms for breakout, and a lounge.
Located on the first floor of Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business, the new Business Innovation Lab is a transformative space located in a highly visible corner of the building. The space was previously an underutilized student lounge and large bank of unused lockers.
Collaborative and flexible, a space for students, faculty, and alumni to vision the future of business
Studio West worked with the Business School to provide programing and design for the innovation lab. Multiple design and furniture configurations were explored to create a highly flexible space, that will allow for student workshops, networking events, entrepreneurial pitch presentations and guest lectures. The tables are height adjustable, and a variety of seating options allow for maximum flexibility to adapt to the space as desired for collaboration. With an understanding that a variety of space types encourage collaboration, the lab includes three technologies equipped 4–6-person meeting spaces and one larger meeting room with optional electrochromic glass, The Freeman School of Business understands snacks fuel ideas and bring students together. The space includes a compact kitchen adjacent to the lounge with foldable doors that can conceal the kitchenette when not in use. This feature was critical for the Freeman School of Business to plan for catered networking events to bring students, business professionals, and alumni together.
