NDSU interior design students travel to Dallas to showcase data center design concepts
A group of four interior design students recently embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Dallas, Texas, where they presented their design concepts for an AI data center that is under construction in Harwood, North Dakota.
The experience was the culmination of a semester-long project in a course taught by Susan Ray-Degges, NDSU professor and interior design program coordinator. Second, third and fourth-year students worked in teams of four to develop visionary concepts for key public-facing spaces within Applied Digital’s data center. At the end of the semester, one team was selected to take their work beyond the classroom and present it directly to executives from Applied Digital and design leaders at Gensler, the largest architecture and design firm in the world.
Students Shler Mohammad, Elsa Bainey, Alyssa Hall and Ashten Wolfe won the challenge, which earned them the trip to Applied Digital’s headquarters. The team said they’re grateful for the opportunity to receive meaningful feedback that they can take with them in their future careers.
“It was surreal. We’re so used to presenting our final design solutions to our professors and our fellow classmates, so getting to present to professionals and receiving their feedback was a great experience, especially at Gensler,” said Mohammad, a junior from Moorhead, Minnesota. “It was nice to get their feedback and commentary on our overall design concepts and see what they would have done differently or what they thought we did well.”
The project itself pushed students beyond familiar territory. None of the team members had prior experience designing for a data center, requiring them to quickly research the unique functional, safety and client needs of the space. Applied Digital tasked the students with creating a design that would tell the story of North Dakota’s rich history, its ties to energy and innovation, and its emerging role as a hub for advanced technology.
In addition to thinking about the functionality of the space, the students had to ensure their design would be usable by a variety of clients and they had to factor in the safety needs of the building. The students were able to pull off this in-depth design in a shorter timeframe than they’re used to working with.
“This project has helped me expand my view on different clientele, such as data centers, so that was really cool to be able to dip my toes into,” said Bainey, a senior from Monticello, Minnesota. “It has also given us so many opportunities, like meeting with Gensler, being able to meet with people who could give us mock interviews and give us feedback on our portfolios.”
For Wes Cummins, Applied Digital's founder and CEO, working with students at NDSU was a rewarding experience, and he was impressed by the professional quality of the work Mohammad, Bainey, Hall and Wolfe presented.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to engage with a different group of students at NDSU that we wouldn’t historically engage with,” he said.
Experiences like this are a defining part of the NDSU interior design program. Through hands-on projects, industry partnerships and experiential learning opportunities, students build the skills and confidence needed to transition seamlessly into their careers. Other projects students take part in throughout their time in the program include the annual design challenge at the Red River Valley Home and Garden Show and the Scheels Design Challenge. Students also gain critical skills in studio seminars, internships and studio tours.
Mohammad and Bainey have highly enjoyed their time in the interior design program, and credit faculty for preparing them for success after graduation.
“As a senior, I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with all of the NDSU interior design faculty, and I can say that in working with each and every one of them, you can really tell that they care about their students,” Bainey said. “They will allow you to ask any question, and they will sit with you for hours to talk to you about one part of your design just to make sure that you’re confident with what you’re putting out there and what you’re presenting to the world.”
For Mohammad and Bainey, those opportunities, and the faculty who support them, have made a lasting impact.
“The Number one reason why anyone considering interior design should come to NDSU is the fact that NDSU goes above and beyond to ensure students are ready for the real world,” Mohammad said.
“Anytime that you receive an opportunity to work outside of what you’re used to, you should take it,” Bainey said. “The number of things you can learn and take away from any experience will increase your capabilities and your expectations of this professional industry.”
To learn more about Mohammad and Bainey’s hands-on opportunity in Dallas, Texas, watch their video on the official NDSU YouTube channel.
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