Campus Analysis

1. I chose to observe the Biggby cafe area of the library at Kalamazoo College. It's purpose is to serve coffee, drinks, and small treats, and to provide a coffee shop atmosphere within the library setting. I made my observations in the evening (around 7- 9 pm), on a weekday.
2. a) The appearance of the actual Biggby store was typical for any Biggby coffee shop, since its a Biggby franchise. The seating area (the part I actually observed) was large, with two couch areas, several armchairs, and lots of wooden table and chairs. The color scheme and lighting were warm, with warm yellow, orange, red, and purple colors dominating and yellow overhead lights and lamps.
b) see above, all of the couches and armchairs were taken, and a few chairs and tables were availible.
c) At the time I observed the area was busy, with people and groups coming in and out, and several people or couples/threesomes studying quietly at tables.
d) The floors were consistent with the rest of the library flooring, a multicolored dark slate slab flooring.
e) The sound level varied depending on how many people and what people were doing in the lounge area, from very quiet to slightly noisy. Even with music played from Biggby the area was never loud.
f) The materials used looked like average coffee shop furniture that you would find in any Biggby's location. Everything looked nice, but very manufactured and cut out.
3. The area projects a warm and cozy ambiance that is supposed to evoke a comfortable and pleasant feeling. Design elements like yellow lighting, soft seating, warm colors, and a recessed area inside the library help to convey the image. It is a nice area that people gather in and promotes a good image for K.
4. People interacted with each other in a very calm and comfotable way. Study groups seemed productive and serious, while group meetings looked fun and relaxed, and people in conversation seemed content and happy. Many had drinks from Biggby and interacted well with the seating options and space.
5. I found the concept of a coffee shop/ coffee lounge area inside a library an interesting idea and one that seemed to work very well. It was a design reminisant of most coffee shops (warm and cozy) that was a nice alternative to other campus locations and a good way to feel off campus while still being on campus.