An iconic building on the Colorado State University campus marked five years of exciting growth and development this year. The Nancy Richardson Design Center brings together students and faculty and partners – from any major, discipline, and sector – through design thinking and modern technologies to solve problems facing the world today. Home to collaborative Design Thinking academic programs and the Department of Design and Merchandising, the RDC was a significant addition to the campus when it opened in January 2019.
Five-year celebration
The occasion was marked by a celebration on March 28. OtterBox and Blue Ocean Enterprises co-founder and CSU alumna Nancy Richardson (’82), along with her husband Curt, donated $8.1 million toward the construction of the 45,000-square-foot building. Donors and dignitaries attended the anniversary celebration including CSU President Amy Parsons.
“This building has become such a source of pride for CSU,” said Parsons. “Having a facility like this allows us to recruit and retain the very best faculty, and it enables us to attract and train students who are going to go out there and be future industry leaders. The RDC is a model of collaboration, and students from every college and every corner of campus engage here.”
The RDC houses design studios; fabrication, prototype, and ideation labs; presentation spaces; and classrooms and computer labs—all with the goal of facilitating collaboration. The labs are open to all students and faculty at CSU to encourage interdisciplinary partnerships.
‘World-class design center’
“As I reflect back over the last five years, I am amazed at what has been accomplished and what the Richardson Design Center is today,” said Richardson at the event. “We set out to be a world-class design center, and we have accomplished it.”
Richardson recognized former dean, Jeff McCubbin and current RDC Director Laura Malinin for their support of the dream to create the new facility at CSU, and Lise Youngblade, current dean, for her vision to build on the foundation with a new School of Design. Richardson recently joined the Executive Leadership Council for the college.
Youngblade credits the innovative learning labs and beautiful and functional classrooms in the RDC with sustained enrollment growth in the programs in the Department of Design and Merchandising and the new programs created in Design Thinking. She recognized Richardson for her vision, “We are so grateful for Nancy’s partnership, generosity, and friendship in envisioning the future of design here at CSU. Her guidance, support, strategy, and inspiration lit a fire that burns so brightly on this campus.”
Broad donor support
In addition to the Richardsons, several additional donors contributed to the facility by naming spaces in the center. Youngblade and Richardson both acknowledged the great number of donors, contributors, and leaders who made the RDC possible.
Named spaces in the RDC
Workplace Resource Design Exchange
Herman Miller (d)Lab
Carla Dore and Family Inspiration Alley
Saunders Heath Rooftop Terrace
Saunders Heath Computer Lab
Carol Ann Sarchet Light and Color Studio
Green and Gold Foundation Lower Terrace
Jeff and Sharon Samson Design Crossroads
Golden Hands Work Café
The Light Center Light and Color Lab
Aaron and Catherine Finch Creativity Commons
Jean Rand Hassenger Industry Coordinator Office
Salt Design Studio Café
Martin C. Gregg and Pauline A. Brock Graduate Student Workspace
“I know beyond a shadow of doubt that nothing would have ever happened if it weren’t for a multitude of talented and dedicated people who believed in and caught the vision of how a world-class design center, right here on the campus of CSU would be transformative for the students, faculty, community, and industry,” said Richardson.
Learn more about the Nancy Richardson Design Center and watch a virtual tour on SOURCE.
See photos from the five-year celebration on the College of Health and Human Sciences Flickr.
The Nancy Richardson Design Center and the Department of Design and Merchandising are part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
