Campus Materials Analysis

In interior design, choosing the correct fabric for a space is one of the most important steps.  There are six different types of fabric applications which include seating, window treatments, wall coverings, panel applications, flooring and fiber-based artwork.   Out of all of these, seating is the most common application, so it is important to choose a fabric that is able to withstand daily use by many people. 

            Thousands of students come through the Student Union Building everyday to eat, study, or pass time in between classes.  There is a wide variety of seating throughout the building that includes benches, tables with booths, cushioned chairs, and cushioned stools.  In addition to the variety of seating styles, there are a variety of fabrics on the seats.  Most of the chairs and benches have a polyester blend of fabric with a geometric pattern on them.  The only issue with this fabric is staining.  The area is so commonly used for eating, there are stains on most of these chairs.  However, this fabric is not only comfortable but it is fairly durable.  The chairs are been upholstered in this fabric for several years and there is hardly any noticeable wear on them.  While this is a good choice, there is a better one.

            The other upholstered material on the seating in the Student Union Building is faux leather.  While there is not much of it, there are a few chairs that are upholstered the solid faux-leather.  This material would have been a better option for all of the seating in the building because of its durability and stain resistance.  On the other hand, the faux leather is most likely more expensive than the polyester blended material. 

            Overall, the seating upholstery in the Student Union Building is a good choice for the large amount of use that it takes daily.  The fabric is not only durable, but it has a fairly generic pattern so that it does not go out of style within a couple of years.  The only improvement that could have been made is to choose one uniform fabric throughout the whole building, such as the faux leather.