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The Terrace Bar
Community
The Challenge
Impressed with our work on The Atrium, Warwick SU invited us back to help transform the Terrace Bar. With views across the campus and a statement copper ceiling, this was clearly a space with stacks of wasted potential – dingy and uninviting by night and barely used in the daytime.
What we did
Our brief was to create a destination bar – something with immediate visual appeal that could be used flexibly, both in the daytime and the evening. There was a strong focus on maximising Warwick SU’s budget – we’d need to be resourceful and look to bring out the best in the existing structures.
Instant impact: Visually, we took our inspiration from Instagrammable city centre bars and cafes. We’ve introduced distinctive branding, bold colours and contemporary finishes to complement the newly repolished copper ceiling.
Restoration and revival: To maximise Warwick’s budget, we focused on enhancing what was already there. We restored the wooden dancefloor, polished the copper ceiling and revitalised the existing bar – adding bold tiles made it pop visually whilst overhead glass racks, improved storage and a new coffee station have improved its functionality for the team.
Bringing the outside in: One of the bar’s best features is its terrace overlooking the busy campus. To emphasise the connection between the interior of the bar and its external space, we’ve used lots of biophilic design – for example, adding foliage above the bar and a colour palette that reflects the natural world.
A brilliant backdrop: Since we transformed the bar, we’ve also noticed lots more shots being shared on social media. It’s becoming a recognisable backdrop to students’ social lives, helping to promote Warwick as a vibrant place to be.
Insight & Strategy
Branding & Graphics
Concept, Design & Development
Technical Design & Drawings
Design Management
Fit-out
Results
We’ve injected bold colours, innovative lighting and new furniture to create a modern, stylish bar. There’s a great atmosphere that beckons you in, whether that’s for evening events or increasingly in the daytime – students often drop in between lectures and staff use the space for meetings over coffee.
It was an absolute pleasure to work with RED again for this project and, as previously, they have transformed one of our SU spaces to elevate our offer for the students of Warwick. From brief through to delivery, overcoming challenges on the way, the team understood our vision, incorporated our ideas, and used their expertise to design and produce a student bar that looks truly outstanding. A massive thank you to Dean and the whole team – we’ll look forward to working together again in the future!
Let’s transform your space together
If you want to know more, get in touch – we’re always happy talking shop.
Contact usWorking with the Community Sector
With imagination and insight into how people interact, we’ve helped create places to encourage inclusiveness, enable collaboration and cultivate community.
We can help:
- Create a visually exciting space, somewhere that engages people and inspires them to spend time there.
- Translate your brand into the physical environment – use your space to tell your story and connect with your audience.
- Reimagining and repurposing wasted spaces.
More from the Community Sector
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Warwick SU HQ
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