Heartland Senior Services Center in Ames is turning 30 this year and a group of Ames High School students recently helped give the center’s gathering space a new look.

An interior design class of 19 students, taught by Kristie Steege, collaborated with the center, 205 S. Walnut Ave., for a hands-on class project, which incorporated design techniques with community service.

“In many ways the building still looks like an elementary school,” said Marie McCuskey, board of directors and service committee member.

“The room was more of a pass-through area; very few people sat down and did anything in this room.”

The project began last spring when committee members asked Steege if she would be interested in having her class redecorate the room. McCuskey said Steege was more than willing to take up the challenge.

Steege said before they involved the students she met with Heartland Board of Directors to lay the groundwork.

The first stage of the students’ involvement was writing a client profile.

“They interacted with the senior citizens in order to determine how the space was used and who used it,” Steege said. “They also had to come up with color schemes, tell why they selected their ideas and provide an action plan for the redecorating process.”

The students were divided into seven teams. Once they had their plans put together, members of the service committee went to Ames High School to hear the presentations and give critiques.

Lois Warme, associate professor of art and design at Iowa State, was asked to critique some of the plans.

“[Warme] was there as a back-up for us and she also became a great mentor to the high school students,” McCuskey said.

Warme said they pulled the strongest aspects from each of the seven teams designs to create the final plan. Some of the major problems with the room prior to the project included an illogical flow of traffic, furniture that was not comfortable for older adults and a too-high ceiling, Warme said.

McCuskey said at first, some of the residents were unsure about the redecorating.

“They were all so used to looking at the space and it was home to them; they didn’t see a need for change,” McCuskey said. “Now that it’s completed, they love it.”

Once started, the project moved along quickly. The students’ involvement began in October. By Nov. 17, the center was able to hold an open house to show off the new room.

Steege said students were given a $600 budget, the results of which included a red ceiling, lowered light fixtures and new furniture.

Since Heartland is a non-profit organization, all funding had to be raised through donations, McCuskey said.

“Oftentimes when you work with a zero budget you have to make sacrifices in your design,” Warme said. “But business and donors came through and no sacrifices had to be made.”

Steege said the outcome exceeded expectations. McCuskey and Warme echoed satisfaction with the finished room.

McCuskey said they hope to also remodel other rooms in the center, and hope the project will act “like a domino effect from one room to another.”