How to avoid taxpayer tantrums

Along with public Library work, I also do a LOT of government work.  And in the last two weeks, I've had two different projects bring up a very interesting question.  "How do I design a beautiful space without overdesigning the space?"  The reason for this is quite honorable as well as practical so I thought I'd answer this question in a large group forum for any of you who have found yourselves in the same predicament or might just find yourself there in the future. 

The reason?  Your taxpayers.

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SO HERE'S THE DEAL.

I gave a finishes presentation on Friday for a lovely lady who runs the tax office of one of our surrounding counties.  I presented three different options to her as I typically do, all based on her overall likes and dislikes as well as project needs.  I explained each option and why I chose what I chose.  I showed her the floor plan of her new building and told her room-by-room exactly where each finish would go.  Fortunately she loved everything and had a bit of a tough time deciding on just one.

After narrowing it down and then swapping a couple of finishes out from one to make the final choice work even more to her liking, we found ourselves making our decision on countertops.  Since this is a very public building and the front-desk counters are a huge part of the lobby design, these countertops will be seen by everyone with great impact as soon as people walk in the door.  

AND HERE'S THE DILEMMA. 

We can all agree that these countertops MUST be durable.  You know probably better than I do how infrequently a government-funded project gets a makeover.  So longevity is the end-game.  BUT!  The countertops can't look so amazing that the people walking in to pay their taxes assume their tax money is going to the public building to make it look as amazing as it will.  So naturally she said to me, "Can we use a durable countertop that doesn't stand out so much?"

The answer of course is, "yes we most certainly can!"

So we chose a quartz countertop that will last forever and a day but the trick was that we used a very simple pattern with nothing more than a hint of texture so it doesn't jump out at everyone to make them think these countertops cost more than they should.

NOW HERE'S THE TRUTH.

These funds did not come from the taxpayers.  This design is being paid for by funds deliberately set aside for this particular project.  But the public won't see it that way.  So it's vital that they get a very functional building that meets the needs of both the staff as well as the public in a way that can withstand the day-to-day abuse it will undoubtedly see. 

However there's a psychological element here that we've gotta deal with too.  A nice building with beautiful aesthetics will also give people a sense of calm and even more importantly, a sense of pride and priority.  When they walk into this building, they will KNOW that their local officials worked hard to create an environment for them that is a pleasant place to be.  In other words, "We Actually Care!"

This brings me to the administration building I'm working on now for a neighboring Library.  They had the exact same request.  In our last meeting, they proposed that we use finishes that have a nice look to them but not so nice that any patrons that might happen to be in that building might think they care more about their administrative spaces than they do their Libraries.  

But right now, that space feels overly institutional and they have a great deal of their Library staff working in that building that make their Library region function.  And they do a darned good job.  So why should they have to work in a dull, lackluster space that functions poorly just so they don't upset the public?  Is there a way to have it both ways?  

Well of course there is!!  And we're doing it.  There are so many ways to improve your space that will accomplish both goals of beauty as well as practicality.  You've just gotta know where to look.

HERE'S WHAT YOU DO.

First, choose fresh paint palettes that aren't dull and lifeless.  Add punches of color for accent walls.  And use those accent colors in furniture selections too.  When it comes to hard surfaces like countertops, don't choose those dramatic quartz and granite options that have large veining and bold textures.  You can still get a very durable solid surface with a beautiful appearance that won't create too much of a wow factor.  Not to mention, if you cut back on the pattern you will absoLUTEly pay less money for it anyway.

Flooring probably won't be a huge issue since you can get just about any look on a small or large budget and the only person that would know would be you and your installer.  So don't overthink that.  But try simple wallcoverings for feature walls because that will not only give you a lot of bang for your buck, it will also be super easy to wipe down and maintain.

Lighting can go either way.  But don't use anything too boring.  Naturally you will have a lot of basic task lighting like your 2x2 acoustical ceiling fixtures, but adding a few dialed-down pendants over reception desks will make a bit of an impact without looking too glitzy.  Overkill with lighting will absolutely look like you've poured more money into the design than the public might feel was necessary.  So be realistic but don't forget to make it stand out a bit.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Mostly, go with your gut.  That's what my tax director did and she was right on.  At the end of the day, she will get the best of both worlds.  She'll get her very durable and functional space that her staff can enjoy working in all while showing her taxpayers that this space was deliberately designed for their comfort and pleasure as well.