Tacoma Community College
Catalyst partnered with Mithun and Tacoma Community College to provide and install furniture for the new Center for Innovative Learning and Engagement. The three-story, 51,325-square-foot building unites the Business, Humanities, and Social Sciences pathways in a single, interdisciplinary hub. Designed to encourage collaboration and flexibility, CILE offers a mix of instructional spaces, staff areas, open student study zones, and gathering spaces, all connected by expansive views of the campus and Mount Rainier.
Our team furnished each area with solutions tailored to its purpose, from modular seating and soft lounges in student gathering areas to mobile tables and ergonomic chairs in instructional spaces. Individual study pods, high-top workstations, and technology-ready furnishings create options for quiet focus, group collaboration, or informal conversation. The materials were selected for durability and sustainability, and the colors, textures, and finishes complement Mithun’s design palette, which was inspired by the surrounding Pacific Northwest landscape.
Working closely with Mithun, we ensured the furniture supported the building’s vision for adaptability and long-term usability. Many pieces can be reconfigured to meet changing needs, helping the CILE remain a vibrant, future-ready environment for learning, teaching, and community engagement.
Sub-Vertical Market: Higher Education
Location: Tacoma, WA
Project Photography: ©Benjamin Benschneider
Design Firm: Mithun
Types of Spaces: Classrooms, Offices, Seminar Rooms, Team Rooms, Student Collaboration Areas, and Respite Rooms
Manufacturers Specified: Herman Miller, Knoll, Keilhauer, NaughtOne, Muuto, Encore, Coriander, WCI, Watson, and Emeco.
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