Carson Guest Sponsors Third Year Students in Studio III Office Projects

In its ongoing goal to connect students with practitioners and enhance the FSU learning experience, the Department of Interior Architecture and Design partners with firms around the country as Studio Sponsors.

Commercial and residential firm Carson Guest, based in Atlanta, Ga, joined us in Spring 2020 to sponsor Studio III, in which students focus on workplace and retail design. Students in their third year in the program engage in deep programming and space analysis to create a commercial office project solution.

Carson Guest already had a history with FSU Interior Design – having hosted firm tours focused on lighting design and hiring interns from FSU. As a member of the FSU Interior Design Advisory Council, I knew that there was an opportunity for the firm to play a greater role in the education of student. Principals Rita Carson-Guest and John Guest jumped on board to provide expertise and this crucial funding.

– Tony Purvis, Carson Guest

Principals in the firm, Rita Carson-Guest and John Guest, along with Project Manager Tony Purvis (MFA 2012) served as vital resources to the students. The designers hosted the class for a visit to their main office in Atlanta, and Purvis also visited Tallahassee multiple times over the course of the semester to offer advice and critiques to the students. Alexia, one of the third-year students remarked that:

Having Carson Guest as our studio 3 sponsor allowed us the unique opportunity to get expert feedback throughout the design process from an experienced workplace design professional outside of our program. This feedback was incredibly valuable in shaping the floorplan and functionality of my workplace project.

We send our sincerest gratitude to Rita, John, and Tony at Carson Guest for their impactful role in the work of our students.