Three interior design students approached the School of Design and Construction (SDC) gallery manager about being a part of the “Legacy of Florence Knoll” gallery opening reception, happening at 4:30 p.m. today in the Carpenter Hall Gallery.

“These very passionate and very talented students in this major approached me with interest in curating the show,” SDC Gallery Manager Carrie Vielle said.

Vielle said she was excited to allow the students to curate the exhibit, which features several furniture items from Knoll International, honoring their company’s founder, Florence Knoll.

“One of the most remarkable things I think about these students in this program is that they are juniors,” Vielle said. “They are true superstars.”

Melanie Laws, Shelby Ruiz and Kelli Young chose the furniture from Knoll International, which they then used to install the gallery design.

WSU’s Interior Design Program has collaborated with alumni, who work in Knoll International’s Seattle branch and the Interior Design Advisory Board, to set up the free three-part event to bring attention to their students and faculty.

“We feel it is significant that Knoll International recognizes the SDC as a venue worthy of celebrating their founder’s 100th birthday,” Vielle said.

After the gallery exhibition, a presentation by Mike Benigno, Knoll International’s Western Divisional VP will take place at the Wadleigh Theatre in Daggy Hall, followed by a Knoll-sponsored networking celebration at 6 p.m. in the Brelsford WSU Visitor Center, according to the SDC website.

In addition, the Knoll-sponsored furniture design competition winner will be announced during the catered networking celebration. Interior design students were urged to design their own unique furniture sketches and computer renderings to enter into the competition, Vielle said. The winner will receive a piece of furniture from the Knoll International collection.

Reporting by Rosemarie Blume