CDFAC gets interior redesign
The redesign of Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center put lofts into the painting rooms, providing more space for class to take place below.
By Micah McVicker | Staff Writer
The University of Indianapolis Department of Art and Design experienced a significant interior redesign, allowing a shift to digital media.
In 1994, the department moved into the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center and students majoring in art doubled to approximately 100, with about half majoring in Visual Communications Design (VCD).
“When we moved into DeHaan in 1994, this building was essentially designed for 45 or 50 students in the major plus others who would take art classes,” said Dee Schaad, department chair for art and design. “It was mostly for more of a liberal arts [program]. We now have half of our majors [who] are visual communication design majors and they didn’t have a place of their own. They didn’t have a home in this building.”
A large new Mac computer lab and studios for VCD students was also a part of the renovations in the department. The addition of the computer lab eliminated some space previously reserved for traditional photography and print making.
“Macs are the computer of choice because for design applications, the programs are appropriate. They’re easier to operate, and they are the computer of choice in the visual communication design industry,” Schaad said.
According to Associate Professor of VCD Julia Taugner, the new lab has more computers, which allows for larger class sizes. In addition to reorganizing space for VCD majors, lofts were built to clear some floor space in three studio rooms.
“Upstairs there are three studio rooms, two of them are used for painting. The middle painting room and the smaller room that we use for painting both had lofts built in them,” Schaad said. “With those lofts, we were able to get all of the storage off the floor. We had a lot of stuff, [and] all of that was able to move up into those lofts. We have more space because we’ve got storage now.”
According to Taugner, the current students are happy with the building.
“The student response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Taugner said.
