Class Project Becomes Career-Launching Opportunity

CLASS PROJECT BECOMES

CAREERLAUNCHING OPPORTUNITY

It’s not every day an assignment in class turns into a careerlaunching opportunity.

But that’s exactly the kind of project Kailani Torres is just wrapping up—and her good work (and innovative design) will be appreciated by countless members of the community for years to come.

Torres, who is from Mililani, Hawai'i, is now a senior in the Environmental + Interior Design program and is leading a major makeover of the main conference room at Sacred Hearts Academy. The project had her doing just about everything a professional does, from working with contractors to incorporating feedback into her design.

“It was very empowering to do this project,” Torres said. “Being able to work with and learn from professionals as well as building connections was so incredible. What better way to gain some exposure than while I’m still completing my degree? This gave me the confidence to know I’m on my way.”

The project was born when Sacred Hearts Academy reached out to Chaminade’s Environmental + Interior Design program

“Being able to work with and learn from professionals ... was so incredible. What better way to gain some exposure than while I’m still completing my degree?”

Kailani Torres '22 presenting to Sacred Hearts Academy leadersihp team

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to solicit proposals from students to redesign a key conference room on their Kaimukī campus. Students in Professor Junghwa Suh’s EID 271: Materiality in Interior Design class were invited to take up the project for class credit— and the chance to work on a real-world design.

Torres jumped at the opportunity to participate but tried not to get her hopes up.

“I thought it was just a wonderful opportunity to gain some experience with a real client,” she said, adding that students had the opportunity to visit the Sacred Hearts campus, “feel out the space,” and interview those who use the conference room. After putting everything together, she set to work on a design proposal that would not only reflect the school’s identity but be practical and flexible for conference room users.

Envisioning what she wanted and actually finishing her proposal turned out to be two different things.

Just as she started jumping into the design software required to craft her proposal, the pandemic started and lockdowns went into place. Virtual learning meant Torres had to troubleshoot more than she was used to. But she says the experience helped her build confidence in her skills.

At the end of the semester, it was go time: students in the class presented their conference room proposals to Sacred Hearts’ board and leadership. Torres was nervous about her final product but knew she’d done her best. After that final presentation, she waited for news. And waited. And waited.

It was several months later that Torres received an email from her professor saying that her design had been selected. Her reaction: “Complete disbelief.” She added, “I read that email over and over again trying to make sure I had read it right. I even had moments of denial,” she said. Torres later got a follow-up message that Sacred Hearts was proceeding with the renovation and ready to work with her.

“Needless to say, excited was an understatement,” she said.

In the weeks that followed, Torres would find herself working directly with Sacred Hearts Academy President Scott Schroeder and the school’s leadership on changes to her design to meet new needs. She made a new presentation to the board in September 2021—and they loved it. From there, Torres was connected with the project’s contractor to make her conference room design a reality.