Housing and Dining Programs finished redecorating the first floor lounge of Leonard Hall in late August after Crate and Barrel donated $5,000 worth of furniture for the lounge.
The chain of furniture stores approached the university and offered to redecorate an on-campus kitchen or lounge, according to Julie Eller, resident director of Leonard Hall.
The materials Crate and Barrel donated included a couch, coffee table, large dining room table, six chairs, a hutch, fabric, pictures and paint, Eller said.
The Leonard redecoration was the latest in a series of lounge redecorations around AU. More community spaces may be refurnished as other companies approach Housing and Dining, according to Eller.
"The [Leonard Hall] lounge was chosen because of its location," she said. "South campus already had a lounge renovated by the Style Network."
No students live on the first floor of Leonard, but the space is available to the entire building. Approximately 430 people live in Leonard, Eller said.
"Students use it to study and hang out," she said. "We won't use it for campus-wide events because it's too small. But it will be used for lecture series and by University College. It can also be reserved for clubs and meetings."
Now there are students using the lounge every day, according to Sharushka Odayan, a sophomore in the School of International Service and a Leonard desk receptionist.
On weekends, between 20 and 30 people use the first floor lounge. During the week, between five and 10 people use the lounge each day, she said.
Sarah Martin, a sophomore in the Kogod School of Business, said she used the lounge once last year, prior to the renovation.
"I can't even describe it," she said. "It was terrible. Now everyone's jealous that we have this place."
Martin said she preferred to study in the new lounge over the library, because it was quiet and comfortable.
"Plus, you can't talk in the library," she said.
The lounge was damaged after a pipe broke in November and mold grew on the walls, according to Vanessa Gregory, a junior in SIS and a Leonard desk receptionist. Housing and Dining did not remove the mold until the redecoration, according to Gregory.
"I'm sure everyone will get their lounge redecorated eventually," she said.
Part of the reason Housing and Dining chose the space is because of the low vandalism rate in Leonard Hall. The lounge is located right behind the front desk and is easily visible, Eller said.
Over the summer, Housing and Dining also redecorated lounges in Anderson and Centennial Halls, The Eagle previously reported.
Cate Snyder, a freshman in the School of Communication, said she thinks Housing and Dining should refurnish the lounges that students use most often.
"Our lounge [fifth floor of Letts Hall] is okay, but it could be better," she said. "The couches could be nicer and we could use more table space. There's always a ton of people in here."
Although Crate and Barrel has no plans to redecorate other areas on campus, another company looking to refurnish a space has approached them, Eller said.
"They came to us," she said. "I think they offer to refurnish other schools too, it's just a way for them to promote a little and draw students into their store if they like the furniture they see."
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