HIGHER EDUCATION: Collaborative Learning Space Design
Shaping the Future of Higher Education.
Higher education is ever-changing, with new teaching methods and technologies reshaping the learning landscape. We’re committed to innovating the educational experience for professors, students, and staff.
Our solutions cultivate collaborative, flexible, and effective learning environments that boost educational outcomes and promote a culture of engagement and innovation. We work with you to create dynamic, adaptable spaces that inspire and engage—both in and out of the classroom. We understand that the future of learning lies in spaces that are as dynamic and adaptable as the minds that occupy them.
What Matters Most
Relationships
We’re deeply committed to the higher ed market, having built long-term relationships with some of the most recognized colleges and universities in New England.
Through trust, consistency, and open communication, we aspire to be the partner you can count on as you transform your evolving campus spaces.
Speed
In the world of higher education, our team gets that timing is everything. We’ve nailed rapid design, budgeting, sampling, and quoting to keep projects on track.
We also understand the domino effect on campus: as soon as one space is finished, a group moves in, and the space they leave begins renovation the next day.
Our all-hands-on-deck approach ensures that every space transition on campus is seamless, meeting tight schedules and overcoming constraints with ease.
Partnerships
We have an extensive network of manufacturers and buying contracts. Our partnerships with Steelcase, Smith Systems, and hundreds of other manufacturers provide access to top brands while offering options to suit every style and budget.
We deliver state-of-the-art designs and applications based on Steelcase and other industry research, tailored to elevate the educational experience. Leveraging buying contracts with MHEC, E&I, and Omnia maximizes savings, ensuring the best value for your investment.
Steelcase Learning Research
Discover how Steelcase is transforming higher education through research-driven insights on learning, collaboration, and adaptable spaces. Explore the future of education design.
Our Projects
Bunker Hill Community College
Bunker Hill Community College
Date
NBBJ Architects
Timeline
Furniture, Technology
Client
Boston, MA
Transforming BHCC: the new student success center.
Bunker Hill Community College’s new Student Success Center is a transformative addition to the campus, designed to significantly enhance the student experience. This three-story building serves as the vibrant heart of BHCC, creating a sense of community for commuter students and showcasing a modern, inviting atmosphere that contrasts with the older campus structures. The first floor features welcoming communal spaces in the learning commons, while the second floor includes private offices and lounges for faculty. The third floor combines classroom and library spaces with study rooms and a courtyard, capped off with a reading room equipped with a high-lumen ceiling-mounted projector, motorized screens, and comprehensive AV connections.
In collaboration with Red Thread, BHCC has outfitted the new building with state-of-the-art furniture and AV solutions. The design adheres to consistent standards of fit and finish, featuring Answer workstations, height-adjustable desks from AMQ, additional lounge and soft seating, benching, Amia chairs for conference rooms, and AMQ Bodie chairs. The project included equipping 9 classrooms with laser projectors, projection screens, HDMI connections, wireless presentation systems, control panels, and speakers; 21 group study rooms with 55” 4K displays and wireless presentation systems; 2 conference rooms with similar setups plus sound bars; and 4 digital signage displays.
This carefully curated environment not only supports academic success but also attracts new students, positioning the center as a beacon of innovation and community on campus. Funded at 60% by the Mass State contract and DCAMM, this project represents a significant investment in the future of BHCC.
Photos © Chuck Choi Photography
Confidential Engineering Education & Design Center
Confidential Engineering Education & Design Center
Date
WBRC Inc., Ellenzweig, Consigli Construction
Timeline
Furniture
Client
Orono, ME
Fostering collaborative learning and adaptability.
The new Engineering Education and Design Center has emerged as a beacon of cutting-edge academic space design. Spanning across three stories and 107,000 square feet, the state-of-the-art facility serves as the center of graduate engineering education, equipped with advanced laboratories, collaborative zones, and technology-rich teaching spaces. Red Thread teamed up with WBRC Inc. for a thorough engagement process on furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FFE), uncovering important insights that influenced the layout.
Our approach to workshops is deeply rooted in inclusivity, as we harness the power of sophisticated tools to gain comprehensive insights into specific requirements and design preferences. We utilized Mural, a virtual collaboration platform, to facilitate interactive discussions and allow various stakeholders, such as graduate students, faculty members, and other staff members, to share their perspectives. Through a series of thoughtfully curated sessions, we encouraged anonymous feedback and fostered an environment of open communication and collaborative ideation. Our use of advanced technological resources continues to play a pivotal role in streamlining the transition from imagination to reality for our valued clients.
Beyond its immediate impact on the university landscape, engineering and design center stands as a testament to Maine’s demand for engineering talent. By bringing together diverse engineering disciplines under one roof and fostering a culture of collaboration, the facility plays a pivotal role in attracting and retaining top-tier engineering talent within the region, amplifying the state’s potential as a leading hub for innovation and technological advancement.
Photos © WBRC Inc.
Confidential University Collaboration Hub
Confidential University Collaboration Hub
Date
Stantec, Gilbane Construction Group
Timeline
Furniture , Demountable Walls
Client
New Haven, CT
Revitalizing an iconic tower into a collaborative nexus.
An iconic structure in New Haven, underwent a substantial renovation into a collaborative hub for researchers, faculty, and students at a local University. This 16-story building spans 186,000 gross square feet and is the tallest structure on the campus. The revitalized space now features open-concept programming areas, including two additional top floors that provide panoramic views of New Haven and its harbor. This thoughtful redesign fosters collaboration and connectivity, encouraging interaction and interdisciplinary engagement among various departments and disciplines.
Red Thread’s meticulous attention to detail and responsiveness to the client’s needs transformed the tower to foster cross-departmental collaboration and break down traditional barriers. Adding floor-to-ceiling windows, a key element in this makeover, not only brings in natural light but also symbolizes the university’s commitment to openness and connection. Across all floors, integrating soft seating, whiteboards, and tables in hallways creates relaxed environments, promoting impromptu meetings and discussions. This comprehensive transformation aligns with the university’s standards, offering height-adjustable seating, privacy-preserving walls with maintained visibility, and top-notch acoustical performance, ensuring flexibility and adaptability across various departments and floors.
The incorporation of Steelcase Glass Selections (GS) with sleek butt glazing was guided not just by sustainability and minimalism but also by a seamless alignment with aesthetic, budget, and brand considerations. The impressive scale of this project, with roughly 3000 linear feet of glass fronts, equates to over half a mile of glass – a compelling testament to the magnitude and impact of this successful partnership.
Photos © Tom Holdsworth Photography LLC
The Roux Institute of Northeastern University
The Roux Institute of Northeastern University
Date
SMRT, Leggat McCall, Cianbro Corporation
Timeline
Furniture, Sound masking
Client
Portland, ME
Fostering tech talent and innovation across Northern New England.
The Roux Institute’s emerging innovation hub servers as both a professional graduate school and research center dedicated to bringing cutting edge technologies to Maine. Located at 100 Fore Street in Portland’s historic Old Port neighborhood, the 43,450 sq ft campus embraces its vibrant community while taking advantage of a rich employer network, access to world-class faculty and researchers, and the university’s global reach. Designed to build talent, train the next generation of tech professionals, and drive economic growth, the space encourages cross-collaboration for learners, faculty, and staff with multiple flex areas and free address workspace.
As the world leader in experiential learning, the Roux institute supports a variety of spaces for the task at hand. With a mix of open and enclosed classrooms, study, café, amphitheater, makerspace research area, and meeting rooms, the campus’ flexible spaces embrace entrepreneurial and creative thinking. Through height-adjustable desks, nearby phone booths, and different seating postures, the unassigned work zones reflects the campus’ mission of liberating students from outdated career models and giving them the opportunity to work in close collaboration with others under the same roof.
Certain design elements including strong biophilia throughout serve as a source of energy while mobile planters instill privacy for concentration. To help reduce unnecessary noise from the open amphitheater, sound masking plays a critical role. All interior furnishings are freestanding, moveable, and completely compatible in function, fit and finish. Furniture is meant to be utilized interchangeably through the floor plan, allowing the space to adapt to the needs of changing and rotating research teams.
Photos © Ryan Bent Photography
How We Do It
Team
Our team of higher education specialists brings together deep expertise and strong support, including project managers, sales, and technology experts. Our dual sales and design specialists can produce detailed CET drawings on the fly, which ensures quick and accurate turnarounds.
Our 1,000 sq ft product pop ups on campus allows your stakeholders to experience products first-hand to make informed buying decisions. As your long-term partner, we review annual purchases, share new industry trends, and find ways to improve our ongoing partnership.
Integrated Approach
We focus on more than just furniture when designing higher education spaces, prioritizing how people will utilize the space. By considering factors like space division, acoustics, furnishings, and technology, we create cohesive spaces that enhance both functionality and experience.
We seamlessly design and integrate furniture applications, meeting and classroom technology, and pods and demountable walls. This approach ensures that every space – from classrooms and libraries to administrative offices and conference rooms – functions optimally, enhancing learning and collaboration.
Resources
Meeting your needs takes more than just resources—it takes a well-coordinated effort. With 300,000 sq ft of warehousing and a 75 vehicle fleet, we’re ready to store and deliver your products right when you need them.
Our in-house installers, tech-driven operations, and flexible logistics make sure everything runs smoothly, from storage to installation, with ongoing support as your needs evolve.
Our Blog
Resources
Red Thread Authorized Contracts
- Massachusetts State Contract
- MHEC (Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium)
- E&I (Educational and Institutional Cooperative Purchasing)
- Connecticut State Contract