For decades, higher education buildings were designed around efficiency: classrooms for lectures, offices for meetings. The spaces in between, like hallways, lobbies, and informal gathering areas, went overlooked, and that often left them feeling lifeless.
Shifts in the way college students learn and other major changes after the pandemic made UNLV interior designers reevaluate this design model.
“Students are the heart of campus,” says Nichole Staker, interior designer and senior project manager at UNLV. “We asked ourselves, how do we bring people back in a way that makes them want to stay? What kind of space helps someone feel like they belong?”
To her, the answer is clear: spaces that are designed with people in mind.
Deborah Bergin, UNLV’s director of planning and facility partnerships, agrees. “The way we design space sends a message whether we intend it to or not. When we show that we care about the environment students are in, we signal that we care about them, too.”
Today, the UNLV interior design team is using this philosophy to turn buildings into places where, outside of the classroom, students don’t just pass through. They stay to socialize, study, and reset. Space refreshes and redesigns are ongoing, typically initiated by the administrative or academic department occupying the space.
Additionally, Staker notes, “We work closely with Facilities Management, and when they notify us about upcoming lifecycle maintenance projects, we use that opportunity to evaluate and implement design updates.”
These improvements tap into the psychology of interior design, where every detail is considered, and every choice is made with intention.
Communicating in color
Color might seem like a surface-level detail, but in the hands of a skilled designer, it becomes a powerful emotional cue. The hues on walls, in upholstery, or on signage can instantly shift the energy of a room from calm to vibrant, from formal to fun. Color is also an important consideration for wayfinding signage and accessibility. High-contrast palettes help make text and visual cues readable for everyone, including people with low vision or color blindness.
When approaching a new project, UNLV’s interior design team uses color to activate spaces and signal how they’re meant to be used. In the Student Union, bold splashes of fuchsia, yellow, and purple echo the youth and vitality of the student body. “It’s the heart of campus,” says Staker. “We want it to reflect that energy.”
Other colors affect spaces in different ways. Deep blues and muted greens create a sense of calm and focus — ideal for quiet study or decompression between classes. Red, when used judiciously, brings attention and urgency, adding just the right amount of tension to keep minds alert.
“There’s a psychological response to every shade,” Staker says. “When we use color intentionally, we shape the way people feel and behave.”
And sometimes, using color is a way to create an identity. Across UNLV’s campuses, designers find places to incorporate our signature scarlet, gray, and black. These bold, recognizable colors create a cohesive visual language, tying disparate buildings into a unified whole and helping students feel grounded no matter where they are.
Texture and material
Beyond color, texture plays a subtle but crucial role in how a space feels — and how it makes you feel. Soft fabrics, layered materials, and tactile surfaces build comfort and familiarity. In contrast, rigid or cold finishes can create distance and formality.
“We think a lot about how a material feels, not just physically, but emotionally,” Staker says.
From a practicality perspective, that means choosing materials that balance artistic and psychological impact with real-world demands. Finishes must withstand heavy daily use, require minimal maintenance, and remain visually appealing over time. Their durability is important. In this respect, the design team’s long-term thinking helps the space remain comfortable and usable for years to come, without the need for repeated investment.
In the Wiener-Rogers Law Library, for example, sandstone and faux leather combined with the rich gold and dark red color palette provide the gravitas of a professional law environment. The furniture’s leather appearance and texture serve an aesthetic purpose — but the design team’s choice to install durable, washable materials makes a positive impact for the Law School, the Law Library, and the Facilities Management team.
Space configuration
If color sets the mood and texture provides depth, layout and space configuration is where it all comes together.
“It’s one thing to have nice pieces,” Staker says. “But if they’re not arranged with intention, they won’t get used.”
That’s why when UNLV designers start a new design project, they look closely at how students and visitors move through a space — and what they need while they’re there. When the team initially designs a space, every layout is reviewed with accessibility in mind, ensuring that furniture placement allows for smooth circulation, meets ADA requirements, and accommodates a wide range of mobility needs.
In Greenspun Hall (GUA), the team created options for different experiences: soft lounge clusters for casual connection, long tables for collaborative work, and tucked-away nooks for solo study.
“We tried to mirror real-life rhythms,” she explains. “Sometimes you want to talk. Sometimes you need to focus. Sometimes you just want to breathe.”
This idea of “three postures” — lounge, collaborate, and private — appears again and again in the newly designed spaces across campus. And flexibility is key. Mobile seating can be pushed together or pulled apart, allowing students to shape the space around their needs. This flexibility also extends the life of each space, letting furniture adapt as usage patterns evolve and making the investment more sustainable over time. They also provide a multitude of options that consider reach, height, and access for individuals of all abilities.
Meanwhile, modern interior design in higher education is increasingly layered with design cues from hospitality — which feels especially relevant here in Las Vegas. “When you walk into a place like the Wynn, you’re immediately immersed in an experience,” Staker explains. “That’s what we’re trying to bring to campus.”
Light and nature
Not every transformation requires bold colors or expensive furniture. Sometimes, the most powerful design choice is bringing nature back into the picture.
Biophilic design, an approach that integrates natural elements like daylight, greenery, and organic materials, has been shown to reduce stress and support well-being. “There’s a huge trend toward bringing nature indoors,” Staker says. “We brought real trees into GUA and live plants to the Student Union, and it completely transformed the atmosphere. Doing that brings life to an otherwise hard space.”
In the Student Union, the plants also function practically, defining the flow of foot traffic and supporting accessibility. Their placement maintains clear floor space and preserves turning radii on the walkway so that anyone using a wheelchair, scooter, cane, or other mobility device can navigate without obstruction.
Light, too, impacts design. Natural daylight helps regulate circadian rhythms, boosting energy and focus. Artificial light, when chosen thoughtfully, can shift the mood of a room. Too bright, and it feels sterile. Too dim, and it feels closed off. But get it just right, and suddenly people want to be there.
Shaping personal experience
Thoughtful interior design elevates the user’s expectation of the experience they’ll have in a space, too.
When a student enters a space that is outdated and, in some cases, downright depressing, they don’t expect to have a good experience — even subconsciously. They’re more likely to feel burned out and uninspired.
By contrast, well-designed spaces and welcoming buildings elevate those expectations and encourage positive feelings. And when care is visible in every building — not just the newest or most central — it signals to all students that their experience matters. Equity in space design is one way a university demonstrates respect for the diversity of its community.
“When someone cares about the space,” says Bergin, “you feel that, and you start to care more, too. It raises the bar for everyone.”
It’s that sense of care — visible in color palettes, materials, furniture configurations, and tiny design details — that signals to students, staff, and visitors that they matter. “The message is simple,” Bergin says. “It says, ‘You belong here.’”
