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Binghamton University recently completed a major renovation of its third-floor library, a 40,000-square-foot space serving a robust student population. The university's project coordinator, Renée Andrews, entered the project with a clear goal: give students meaningful choices. That meant designing for collaborative group study, semi-private focused work, and independent cozy moments, all within a single cohesive environment that could stand up to the rigors of heavy daily use.
The space came with some logistical challenges. Power was available only from the wall, not the floor, meaning furniture placement had to be strategic. The building's brutalist architecture, with its narrow-slit windows, also made sightlines an important consideration. And as Andrews noted, “students are going to sit on tablet arms no matter what,” making durability a critical requirement, not a nice-to-have feature.
Andrews turned to Integra's Coffee House Collection as the foundation of the design, utilizing it across three distinct seating experiences.
For open collaborative zones, Coffee House seating was arranged in semicircular and serpentine configurations, paired with tables to create an inviting booth feel while remaining open enough for students to come and go freely and social enough to encourage interaction.
For semi-private study, booth seating became an instant favorite. “The students are obsessed with the booth seats,” Andrews noted. The enclosed format gives students a sense of separation without being fully isolated, offering a balance that has proven enormously popular across campus.
For independent, cozy study, High Back Coffee House seating with integrated tablet arms on both sides created a tucked-away personal space where students can settle in with their feet on an ottoman and feel connected to the room while still enjoying a sense of separation The tablet arms, which are rated to withstand 300 lbs. of static load, have proven essential. “They're going to sit on them,” Andrews reiterated. “You need something that can take it.”
Integra’s tables provided an elegant solution to the power access challenge. By using wedge-shaped table configurations, power is routed from the wall while creating organic, curved furniture arrangements that avoid a rigid, institutional look and preserve views through the building’s narrow windows.
Andrews has specified Integra's Coffee House Collection across multiple campus projects over several years, and the results speak for themselves. “In reviewing a five-year old project, it holds up so well,” she said. Fabric remains looking fresh, furniture frames stay sturdy, and the ottomans, intentionally heavy, stay put. Integra’s attention to detail has also stood out to Andrews. On one project featuring a complex fabric pattern, Andrews noted every seam was matched precisely, a detail she has not found with other brands.
The Coffee House Collection now appears across Binghamton's campus: in the library, science buildings, the baseball stadium, faculty offices, and more. When Residential Life staff recently questioned a furniture recommendation from a vendor for a gaming room, they pointed to the Integra chairs already in their hallways. “We want those chairs,” they said. “They're the most comfortable.”
For Andrews, the choice comes down to what’s most important: comfort. “If you sit down in a similar configuration with another manufacturer, it can feel like you're sitting on a concrete block. With Integra, it's comfortable…and it stays that way.”
"If you sit down in a similar configuration with another manufacturer, it can feel like you're sitting on a concrete block. With Integra, it's comfortable…and it stays that way."
Renée Andrews, Project Coordinator at Binghamton University
PHOTO CREDIT: RENÉE ANDREWS
