Langston University Student Success Center

Langston University’s Student Success Center had become outdated and no longer reflected the strong community spirit and values of the student body and the University administration. At the outset, the project was focused on the renovation of the Center’s dining areas. More akin to a high-school cafeteria, the space offered little in the form of varying dining and social experiences.

Through creative discussions with the Administration about project goals and the long-term vision for the Center, the University understood that renovating the dining spaces would not achieve what they really desired — a modern collegiate environment that students could connect with and be proud to call their home away from home… a place that was to be The Heartbeat of Campus.

Because of this realization, the scope of the project morphed into a complete re-imagining of the entire Student Success Center.

THE HEARTBEAT OF CAMPUS

Walls that once partitioned off barely used spaces were removed. Sight lines were opened up to see through the entire building, creating visual connections between people and activity zones. Dining and social spaces were intermixed, providing a multitude of experiences within the Center’s new layout.

The sports-themed “Lion’s Den” — once hidden in the depths of the building — was given new prominence highlighted by the University’s rich sports history and a new E-Gaming arena.

The University’s long and important history was put on display throughout the Center, with floor-to-ceiling, large-format graphics and signage educating students and alumni to their school’s heritage and what it truly means to have “Lion Pride.”

Relationships

From the very first meeting with the Langston University team, it’s been said that Narrate Design was hired for this project because we listened. We heard their ideas, concerns, and vision for the future then we gave them a fully transformed space design that was even more than they dared dream.

Like many renovations of older buildings, Langston’s space was not without its challenges and “surprises.” Thanks to our diligent analysis and construction administration, we’ve been able to meet each one with solutions that don’t derail the timeline or budget.

At the end of the day, the Langston Student Success Center renovation project is really about relationships. The collaboration established between Narrate and Langston early on led to an aspirational design that exceeded the client’s expectations. The leadership of our Construction Administrator and strong communication with trusted consultants have allowed the construction team to stay nimble and flexible in the face of supply chain issues and facility problem-solving. All of this resulted in a successful project that achieved Langston’s vision for the future.