Disney Institute

The collaboration between ODP Business Solutions^® Workspace Interiors and Disney Institute^® resulted in a dedicated space that serves as a modern learning and immersive storytelling environment.

Project specs:

Location: Orlando, Florida
Space: 8,795 sq. ft.
Buildings: 1
Rooms: 2
Capacity: 160 people
- 65 in room 1
- 70 in room 2

For more than three decades, Disney Institute has provided professional development and advisory services to individuals and organizations worldwide based on the business insights and best practices of Disney parks and resorts. Disney Institute was looking to create a space where it could share its powerful lessons in a comfortable and focused environment at the Walt Disney World^® Resort in Florida.

ODP Business Solutions has been a longtime collaborator with Walt Disney World, and that relationship extended to this project with Disney Institute.

“For more than a decade, we’ve established a track record of presenting solutions to help solve unique needs,” said Amy Waite, ODP Business Solutions Senior Account Manager. “This has positioned us to extend our relationship in different ways. Re-designing and furnishing this space was a chance for us to show our experience in this area. It was exciting to be part of the process from creative concept to successful implementation.”

With 30 years of experience planning, designing, and furnishing learning and training environments for organizations across the U.S., the Workspace Interiors team was ready to roll up their sleeves and jump right in.

furniture

From imagination to activation

When the project was initiated, the Disney Institute team had a general sketch with a design direction to make this new space feel fun, modern, and professional.

Watch the 3D View Video

The space was originally a ballroom, and the challenge was to make it a comfortable and modern learning environment that allowed for flexible arrangements, including tables, chairs, and standing spaces, that would accommodate professionals all day.

Workspace Interiors took Disney Institute’s initial idea and worked quickly on space planning and design to provide layouts that included 2D and 3D visuals, color choices, fabric finishes, and recommended products and accessories for the space.

“So one of the things that we looked at in the functionality of the furniture was to be able to accommodate any type of person that came in here, so if it was a person that was right-handed or left-handed or somebody who needed to get up and stand, then we had different options,” said Patti Maneri, ODP Business Solutions Development Manager.

seating plan

Space to learn, room to grow

From the time the project was approved, it was quoted, ordered, and installed in a short amount of time. The teams worked together to set goals and meet budgets and timelines.

The Workspace Interiors team used its extensive project management experience to assist the Disney Institute team with this project, including:

Order placement
Delivery
Timing
Staging process management
Coordination of furniture and carpet installation

Workspace Interiors removed the ballroom’s current carpeting and installed the new carpet. A herringbone pattern was suggested to make it more visually appealing and provide more flexibility.

“All the furniture here is cleanable. It’s beautiful, but it’s all vinyl, so it’s very durable.”
— Patti Maneri, ODP Business Solutions Development Manager

Once the carpeting was in place, the room was furnished with products that included the following:

Nesting tables and chairs
Lounge seating
Couches
Round tables
Small tables
High-top chairs and tables
Modular-living whiteboards
Flooring

All of the furniture installed is mobile, so it can easily be moved around and reconfigured.

Professional development meets unforgettable experiences

The space was transformed from an open ballroom to a modern, functional, and multipurpose learning and storytelling environment to host Disney Institute professional development courses.

“It was such a high degree of collaboration, of a willingness to get to yes, and an outright creative partnership,” said Timo Gorner, vice president, Disney Institute. “It was a joy to embark together on this project, especially given that we had a pretty short timeline, so the fact that we could all work against a pretty tight deadline and successfully bring this to completion, under budget, on time is a big milestone.”

This new space gives Disney Institute the opportunity to share its powerful lessons in a comfortable and focused environment. Disney Institute participants have loved hearing Disney’s world-class facilitators tell stories and examples, and this space allows them to be immersed in them in all-new, more memorable ways. It’s a learning experience that participants will never forget.

Workspace Interiors is here to support you.

At Workspace Interiors, we believe that a workplace is more than just a space to work. It’s a mindset that reflects the culture of your company. We can help you create a positive workspace that can help your staff thrive, so your organization is able to succeed — all with total turnkey solutions that suit your unique requirements.

We’re so much more than a furniture vendor.

We can help make your purchase process as seamless and efficient as possible and manage any or all parts of your overall design project. Look to us to help you consolidate your buying power through cooperative contracts, so you can leverage deeper discounts on office furniture expenditures.

Ready to start the conversation? Let us help you furnish your workspace for success.

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