Interior Design Services, a small two-person team in Facilities Management, helps shape nearly every space at the University of Kentucky.
From bustling student lounges to dynamic classrooms and functional office spaces, all campus furniture is curated by Shareese Malone, university interior designer, KYCID, and Sarah Baker, interior designer project managersenior, NCIDQ, AUID.
“The items that people touch and see — their chair, their desk, their shelves — are us. It’s our responsibility to match the person or group of people with the space they work in,” Malone said. “The true measure of a space is how it makes a person feel when experiencing it.”
The duo’s responsibilities go beyond selecting workable furnishings. Their projects require thoughtful planning and coordination to ensure campus spaces are functional, comfortable and welcoming for the thousands of students, faculty and staff who use them daily. Every decision must be framed through the lens of public health, safety and well-being. Experience and knowledge of ergonomics, building codes, standards and fire safety are the quiet foundation for every space.
“There is an often misconception that we are decorators. But designers have a very different role. We read and create floor plans, reflected ceiling plans, electrical and data plans so that we truly understand the interior space from a very functional perspective,” Baker said. “We understand construction and interior architecture which helps us solve acoustic and personal comfort issues. In our role as designers, we also have to be project managers coordinating deliveries and installations with construction schedules."
Malone and Baker collaborate with national and local architecture and design firms as well as stakeholders across campus to specify the finishes, furnishings and equipment for many large capital projects. This process, with intentional design and institutional knowledge, helps make university spaces not only functional, but also adaptable and engaging.
“I love digging in to see how people work and how we can improve their daily interactions, whether it be through understanding job functionality or how those individuals wish to feel as they occupy a space,” Baker said. “We often play the role of a psychologist, as many aspects of human behavior affect how we feel when we interact with a space. We observe, we listen and then respond with an appropriate design solution.”
Baker is excited to help bring White Hall Classroom Building back online for students this fall.
“The renovation and addition to the White Hall Classroom Building is so special. It’s iconic to our campus — nearly every alumnus has had at least one class in White Hall,” she said. “I'm looking forward to introducing the re-imagined learning experience and gathering spaces. What was once exterior walkways, will now be study and lounge spaces supporting different postures and ways to study privately or with small groups.”
While smaller initiatives and renovations are part of the pair's workflow, capital construction projects are their primary focus. Interior Design Services is currently supporting an unprecedented amount of capital construction projects.
“The Michael D. Rankin M.D. Health Education Building is the largest project we are working on right now,” Malone said. “With five different colleges moving in, the space will be enjoyed by many. It is a huge undertaking.”
Projects of that scale reflect the constant balancing act the team undergoes as no two days, or projects, are the same.
“Every day is different,” Malone said. “We could be working with a multimillion-dollar furniture budget one moment or picking out flooring for a single office the next.”
This variety requires a deep understanding of each building’s traits and intended use, project oversight and planning. In addition to the technical demands of each project, the team also works to preserve the university’s history through sustainable choices.
“We want to reuse the products we encounter as much as possible. There are still original food court chairs in the Gatton Student Center and original law building chairs still in use in the new law building,” Malone said. “Sustainability is something we care about and work to prioritize.”
It’s important to note that all furniture has a life cycle within UK’s system. The designers are very attuned to this, specifying high quality, sustainable products. Once a product has moved on from its original intention, it goes to UK Surplus, where it can find a new home with other university employees in their workspaces and classrooms.
“Recently, we renovated an office suite that had very new carpet. I quickly realized the square footage was likely sufficient for another new space on campus. After some quick calculations and phone calls, we were able to re-purpose the carpet tile to The Thrifty Cat, a free store for students. This kept the carpet out of the landfill and created a better experience for students at The Thrifty Cat. It’s a win-win,” Baker said.
In her 25 years with UK, Malone says two projects in particular have been some of the most humbling and gratifying to work on. Namely, the Pediatric Oncology Unit and the Gray Design Building.
“Each project had its challenges, big and small, but the outcome was the same,” she said. “When students and patients experienced the renovations for the first time, smiles were shining bright. It’s an amazing accomplishment to know people are happy when they enter a space.”
Of the thousands of spaces on campus, Malone and Baker have touched nearly all of them. Whether renovating suites at Kroger Field, choosing furniture for the White Hall Classroom Building renovation, or reimaging how space in a new research building will be utilized, the interior design team is there, thoughtfully listening, planning and executing spaces that foster scholarship, collaboration and connection across the university.
“The wide array of projects and people we work with makes our job incredibly worthwhile,” Malone said. “It is so special to make a difference on campus and for the greater Kentucky community by making careful decisions for the spaces so many spend time in.”
Shareese Malone, university interior designer, KYCID, and Sarah Baker, interior designer project management senior, NCIDQ, AUID, make up the Interior Design Services team that helps shape nearly every space at the University of Kentucky.
Jennifer T. Allen
Shareese Malone checks on a furniture order that was delivered for the renovation in the White Hall Classroom Building.
Sarah Baker, interior design project manager, and Scotty Bowles, capital construction project manager, attend a meeting about the renovation of the Kroger Field suites.
Sarah Baker checks on the renovation of Kroger Field suites.
Shareese Malone speaks with contractors at the renovation of the White Hall Classroom Building.
From bustling student lounges to dynamic classrooms and functional office spaces, all campus furniture is curated by Shareese Malone, university interior designer, KYCID, and Sarah Baker, interior designer project managersenior, NCIDQ, AUID. Their office includes many swatches and samples.
The Interior Designer Services office space includes many swatches and samples.