Make Your Student Housing Desirable to Discerning Families - Discover the Art Consulting & Installation Process Behind FSU City Site, Tallahassee
By Juliana Roslin, Founder, Art Firm (Women-Owned)
The Brief: Campus Living That Feels Vibrant, Yet Warm
When the FSU City Site team invited me in, the ask was bigger than “put art on the walls.” We needed to build atmosphere for student life near Florida State University, vibrant but warm, brand-true without clichés, durable enough for daily traffic, and respectful of the academic calendar.
I led our consulting and advisory effort, and together with Rule of Thirds Studio (interior design) and 908 Group (architecture) we mapped the experience students should feel as they move from the lobby to the study rooms, the club spaces, the podcast room, and the fitness center.
Early on, I aligned with Residence Life and Facilities on the non-negotiables:
Clarity of brand, high-traffic performance, and installations that respect code and schedule.
My team defined the curatorial brief, guardrails for budget stewardship, and a turnkey path from concept to installation, so our client could work with one accountable partner.
Brand-True by Design: Pantone Discipline & Typographic Clarity
I believe brand is a contract. For FSU City Site we honored that contract with color science and typographic discipline.
We worked with PMS 7502 C (a sophisticated academic gold), PMS 155 C (a warm cream), anchored by Pantone Process Black C for a modern, structured edge, and we referenced the signature #782F40 garnet cue thoughtfully, without visual cliché.
For typography, Adobe Garamond carried tradition and Acumin delivered modern clarity and legibility for signage and large-format graphics.
These choices kept the space coherent and premium: students feel the FSU spirit—without feeling like the art is shouting at them.
Co-Creating with Our Build Partners
Great campus work is choreography. Rule of Thirds Studio set a beautiful interior concept; our role was to give it voice through art.
In parallel, I collaborated with 908 Group so that architectural moments and graphic interventions spoke the same language.
This alignment let us make faster, cleaner decisions: finishes, placements, and sightlines that make sense from day one.
As a Women-Owned firm, we also helped our client meet supplier diversity goals, a strategic value-add for developers and operators who care about both outcomes and vendor mix.
Spaces that Work (and Wear Well)
Fitness Center — High-Traffic Mural
Motivation should push, not overwhelm. We designed and produced a large-format installation with the statement “FEARLESS DETERMINATION.” The material spec was critical:
A high-traffic performance vinyl with a boutique-gym finish, easy to clean, tough on scuffs, and color-true under different lighting conditions.
Club & Study Rooms — Acoustic Art that Pulls Its Weight
In student housing, acoustics aren’t a nice-to-have. We integrated acoustic panels and deflectors color-matched to our palette, so sound control reads as design, not gear.
The result is a social club that still feels conversational and study rooms that invite focus.
Lobby & Podcast Room — Warm, Textured, Intentional
I wanted students to feel welcome the second they cross the threshold.
We leaned into rich textures and warm woods and fabricated solid-wood floating frames, custom pieces that sit quietly in the architecture while grounding the brand story.
The podcast room pairs clarity with character so content creators feel energized, not boxed in.
Turnkey, Fabricated in Chattanooga, Installed White-Glove
I’m a believer in vertical integration because it protects the brief.
We fabricated in-house in Chattanooga, which gave us real control over color, materials, and timelines.
My team managed the full chain:
Curation → budgeting → custom fabrication → installation
So the client didn’t have to juggle multiple vendors.
For installation, we sequenced around the academic calendar, coordinated access with facilities, and followed a white-glove protocol (surface protection, safety, insurance) to minimize disruption.
One vendor, end-to-end accountability.
What Changed for Students and Operators
Today, FSU City Site feels intentional. The fitness mural gives you a nudge without a scream.
The study and club rooms are calmer, functionally quieter and visually cohesive. The lobby has that stay-a-while warmth, and the podcast room sparks creativity.
For operators, the upside is practical: brand-true durability, easy maintenance, and a single point of responsibility if anything needs attention.
Work With Us (For Student Housing & Campus Living)
If you’re developing or operating university housing and want a partner who can consult, fabricate, and install, with Pantone-level brand fidelity and schedule-aware execution, my team and I would love to scope your project.
We can start with your timeline and budget range, share sample mood boards and location plans, and propose a clear, turnkey path that respects both your design intent and your operational realities.
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