Qingyuan “Julia” Zhu, a Master of Interior Design student, received an honorable mention for Best Commercial Design Concept for her commercial office studio project in the Georgia Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers’ Design Excellence Awards.

“Her concept guided her design for the 7,000-square-foot facility,” noted Lynn Jones, chair of interior design and Zhu’s instructor in the commercial design studio course. “Spatial development, office placement, ceiling design, lighting selections and even the color palette supported her client’s request for an interior embracing recent trends in commercial office layout to establish a highly cooperative environment, including some sustainable elements.”

Zhu, from China, was the first student to arrive on Brenau’s campus to spearhead Brenau’s collaboration with Anhui Normal University.

Jones said the interior design department is honored to be a part of this international effort and grateful to the many faculty, staff and administrators who assisted Zhu in her educational efforts over the past two and a half years.

Zhu and her classmates also presented their portfolios at the MID Portfolio Exhibition at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta on Aug. 11.