LaunchPad Redesign Competition
by Aidan Turner '24 (School of Architecture), LaunchPad student employee
During the Fall 2023 semester, the Blackstone LaunchPad team, guided by director Traci Geisler, set out to transform our physical space in Bird Library into a more inclusive and accessible place. A LaunchPad Redesign Competition was held, with contestants using the existing floor plan and furniture of the LaunchPad to create a more interactive and carefully positioned space.
We are so proud to announce that the design submitted by our winner, Aditee Malviya '25 (College of Engineering and Computer Science) has now been almost completely implemented! Some of the notable features of her design included separating the multifunctional space from the collaborative space using a temporary divider and making the space more inviting by opening up the entrance area and rearranging the furniture to accommodate people with wheelchairs. The competition shed light on the potential of physical space and rearrangement to entirely transform how spaces are used and perceived.
We cannot thank the panel of judges who participated in this competition and helped decide the final winner. We brought together Todd Rubin '04 (Architecture), an extremely active and vital member of the LaunchPad community, to provide feedback along with Syracuse University staff members Terriruth Carrier, Thomas House, Corinne Sartori and Andrew Pease, to assist and judge the contestants in the representation and accessibility standpoints of their designs.
Other updates to the LaunchPad to make it more accommodating, inviting, inclusive and equitable include:
- exterior signage to identify the types of services and student businesses served
- accommodations for neuro-spicy entrepreneurs
- thematic décor to increase sense of belonging for all
- mobile wall to create sound buffering for workshops
- addition of mini pantry to address food insecurities
- informational panels to accommodate color blindness
- diversified resource (service provider) pool, judging pool and mentor pool
- providing presentations in six languages to accommodate people whose first langauge is not English