Located in Brookings, South Dakota, South Dakota State University spans 400 acres which includes 108 academic buildings and serves around 11,500 students. We spoke with their Interior Designer Abby Whitelock about a recent furniture project she completed on campus in Lincoln Hall. Whitelock has been with the university for six years, serving on the facilities team the whole time.
Revitalizing Lincoln Hall: SDSU’s Success with OMNIA Partners and Source International
South Dakota State University Sees 40% Savings with Cooperative Purchasing
“I love my job because I get to be part of something bigger. Going to college is a big decision for students -- choosing a university is truly part of your life journey and it’s an honor for me to play a part in that by providing spaces that help inspire them to learn and grow.”
The Renovation Project
Lincoln Hall was originally the University’s library, first opening in 1927. The building is very historically designed with features such as Corinthian columns and other architectural details worth preserving.
“I wanted to make design selections that matched the sophisticated historical architecture.”
With this in mind, and having completed a past project with this supplier, Whitelock decided to award the project to Source International. With over 40 years of experience, Source International is a leading manufacturer of contemporary ergonomic seating for commercial spaces, including corporate offices, higher education, hospitality, and healthcare.
“Knowing how their products have held up on our campus, it was a no brainer for me to use Source International.”
The building features beautiful stained glass, columns and even coffered ceilings that the furniture needed to complement. When Whitelock’s sales rep began sending her product photos, she knew Source International was the right choice to keep the beauty of the building.
Cooperative Partnership
The competitively solicited and publicly awarded contract held by Source International through OMNIA Partners saved the university both time and money, through the easy to use cooperative contract process. Whitelock has strict purchasing guidelines that make it almost necessary to use a cooperative when completing large projects such as this one.
She shared with us that using a cooperative, like OMNIA Partners, allows her to do her job more efficiently and produce cost savings to the university.
About OMNIA Partners & Source International
Source International specializes in creating contract seating for customers seeking a blend of sophisticated design, environmental responsibility, and realistic pricing. Through OMNIA Partners, Source International was awarded a multi-year, competitively solicited contract, which offers public sector organizations state-level and agency-level bid contracts. By utilizing the OMNIA Partners contract, you can reduce the need for multiple quotes, and in many cases speed up the process to fulfilling a purchasing need.
Looking to renovate any of your spaces soon? Click the button below to learn more about solutions from Source International & OMNIA Partners today!