Penn State Brandywine, a respected regional campus of the Penn State system, sought to create a more engaging and functional common area for its rapidly growing student body. With an increase in on-campus activity and a new wave of incoming students, the university needed a flexible, modern space that would foster collaboration, comfort, and campus pride.

Challenge:

The existing common area was dated, underutilized, and lacked the welcoming energy today’s students expect from a modern campus environment. Seating was sparse and mismatched, and there was little support for group interaction, device use, or casual study.

Rather than pursue a full renovation or work with multiple vendors, Penn State Brandywine wanted a single, experienced partner who could bring the space to life quickly, within budget, and with minimal disruption to daily campus operations.

Solution:

Boomerang Office Furniture designed a vibrant, student-centered space that emphasized flexibility, comfort, and modern aesthetics—perfect for today’s hybrid learners and campus culture.

• Modular Lounge Seating: We installed durable, colorful lounge furniture that could easily be rearranged for group work, solo study, or events—allowing the space to evolve with student needs.
• Power-Integrated Workstations: High-top tables and soft seating areas included built-in USB and power outlets so students could stay connected, whether studying, working on group projects, or just hanging out.
• Zoned Layout for Flow: The design included distinct zones—quiet nooks for study, open lounges for social interaction, and soft seating near windows to encourage natural engagement with the space.
• School-Spirited Finishes: We incorporated Penn State’s iconic blue-and-white color palette and subtle branding elements throughout the space to promote school pride and identity.

Results:

The new space quickly became a student favorite and a focal point of campus life:

• 70% increase in student use of the common area, based on campus activity tracking
• Extremely positive feedback from student organizations and faculty alike
• Stronger community engagement, with students using the space for everything from study sessions to club meetings and informal gatherings
• Installation completed on time, before the start of the semester, with no delays or disruptions to campus operations

Campus leadership noted that the space “finally feels like a place where students want to be—not just pass through.”

Conclusion:

By working with Boomerang Office Furniture, Penn State Brandywine transformed an outdated space into a dynamic student hub—without renovation delays or multiple vendors.

Whether you’re a university, school, or campus housing director, Boomerang delivers high-impact student spaces that are designed to energize, connect, and inspire.