Students partner with Oakwood

A new partnership between the School of Human Ecology and the Oakwood Village Retirement Communities is enabling students of interior design to help Oakwood evaluate its newest facility this semester.

Interior design students receive independent study credit for completing one component of the evaluation project, assessing the effectiveness of the Oaks, a complex of 90 independent-living apartment-homes. Working under the direction of Michael Hunt, professor of environment, textiles and design, the students are evaluating the units’ accessibility, ergonomics and other design elements.

In a related project, Caroline Carncross, a graduate student, will examine how current Oakwood residents feel about this addition to their community.

Suzanne Scott, senior lecturer, will develop internships for students with design and construction firms that have contracts with Oakwood for future projects.

“The ideas and perspectives of the academic community are invaluable to innovation in senior care facilities design,” says John Noreika, Oakwood executive director.