Interior design program works to bring boutique hotel
12/11/2007
Lamar University’s interior design program has partnered with the Beaumont Main Street Association to help revitalize downtown. Students are working with Beaumont Main Street’s executive director Carolyn Howard to create a boutique hotel in the downtown area.
“This partnership has been fantastic,” Howard said. “It’s such a blessing to have these creative, young minds strategizing for downtown.”
Last summer, the director of Lamar’s interior design program, Richard Gachot, was introduced to Howard. Since then, Lamar’s hospitality studio class had been working on plans to renovate the historic Gilbert Building. The students have put many hours into this project and, in turn, have gained valuable experience by getting, what Howard
calls, “an indepth look at adaptive re-use.”
The vacant Gilbert building is on the national register of historical buildings and is headed toward new ownership. Students presented their plan at Main Street’s annual meeting, Dec. 11, and explained how a boutique hotel would fit into the parameters of the historical building. They also highlighted the economic benefits and uniqueness
a boutique hotel would bring to Beaumont.
The project is just one example of the many opportunities interior design students have at Lamar University, Gachot said. The steadily growing program has an outstanding curriculum, which Gachot is working to make even better.
“Students should have a strong foundation to build upon,” said Gachot, associate professor of interior design. “Once they have the basic knowledge, we encourage students to use their imagination and be creative.”
The first year of the interior design program focuses on core curriculum courses throughout the university. During the second year, students receive a strong background in design basics and the integrity of materials and form. After this, students’ attention turns to the specific aspects of interior design.
In the past, students have been required to take three studio classes: residential, commercial and senior thesis. Gachot has added a fourth studio class to the interior design curriculum — hospitality. These classes give students the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice and build models of their design ideas.
Aside from Lamar’s general core curriculum, interior design students are required to take art history and drawing courses. Gachot has added a lighting course to the degree plan as well.
To increase students’ marketability when they graduate, they complete specialized courses in AutoCAD and ArchiCAD, specialized software programs commonly used in the interior design industry.
Additionally, students have the opportunity to build their own portfolio in a classroom setting and are required to complete a summer internship.
Lamar interior design also offers students many opportunities to study abroad and domestically. In the summer of 2006, 10 Lamar interior design students joined 10 students from Texas State University in San Marcos on a visit to Paris. In exploring the
buildings, museums and other architectural elements of the City of Lights, the students gained valuable exposure to different design ideas. Past and future student trips include: New York, Miami, Los Angeles and Chicago.
Each semester, interior design majors travel to Kuhl-Linscomb in Houston to gain exposure to contemporary design not available in the Beaumont area. Gachot believes the student’s quality of work increases after each of the trips because they are able to think in new and innovative ways.
For more information about Lamar University’s interior design program contact Gachot at (409) 880-8670, or for more information about Beaumont Main Street contact Howard at (409) 673-3596.
