Keilhauer donates lounge furniture to help transform ARC Lounge at TMU

Lounge and collaborative furniture manufacturer Keilhauer has donated a full collection of furnishings to help transform the Architectural Student Society (ARC) Lounge at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), which re-opened this past September as a newly imagined community hub for students.

The space has been specially designed to foster student well-being, collaboration, and creativity for more than 600 students studying in TMU’s Architectural Science Department.

The ARC Lounge was once a closed-off classroom with no natural light or community purpose. It has since been transformed into a vibrant social hub through creative collaboration between Keilhauer, TMU faculty, and student leaders.

The furniture donation from Keilhauer features showroom pieces from their New York and Chicago locations, which prioritize comfort, flexibility, and community collaboration.

“The ARC lounge has already become a cornerstone of student life in our department. It’s a space where ideas, exploration, and friendships naturally take shape. This collaboration with Keilhauer proves how thoughtful design can directly enhance student productivity and wellbeing,” said Lisa Landrum, chair of the Department of Architectural Science.

As a collaboration-first project, the TMU student leaders were part of the space’s development and reimagining. Led by Architectural Student Society principal Christine Ho, with Evelyn Foster, Tiffany Chui, Camila Ramírez Vargas, and Mars Makdissi, the Architectural Student Society created the floor plan, selected each piece of furniture, and collaborated with Keilhauer to create the vision.

This creative process not only gave students hands-on experience in architectural planning but also ensured the final result reflected their needs and preferences.

“Keilhauer treated us like true design partners from the very start. We weren’t just selecting furniture, we were shaping how future students would experience this space. Seeing our plans come to life has been empowering and inspiring, and it’s shown us how design can have a real, lasting impact on a community,” said Ho.

This donation reflects Keilhauer’s ongoing commitment to supporting education, community spaces, and the next generation of creative leaders in architecture and design. By contributing to a space designed for connection and comfort, Keilhauer hopes to inspire students to move forward as they shape the future of design.

“Supporting TMU’s architecture students was a natural extension of what we value most; using design to improve people’s lives. These students are the future of our industry, and we were grateful to contribute to a space where creativity and community can thrive, side by side,” said Meghan Sherwin, president, Keilhauer.

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