K-Pop Dormitory Design Challenge: Creating the STS School Team Girls Headquarters

Materials Needed

• Paper (Graph paper recommended, or large poster board/butcher paper)
• Ruler or straight edge
• Pencils, colored pencils, or markers
• Calculator or spreadsheet software (for budgeting)
• Access to reference materials (pictures of dorm rooms, furniture costs, general floor plans)
• Optional: Digital design tool (e.g., Google Drawings, free floor plan software like Floorplanner, or even Minecraft/The Sims for layout visualization)

Learning Objectives (The Goal)

By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:

1. Conduct a design Needs Analysis based on a specific client profile (STS School Team Girls).
2. Apply principles of spatial reasoning to design a functional and efficient floor plan.
3. Create a realistic project budget, allocating funds for essential needs and aesthetic choices.
4. Justify design choices based on the group's needs and budget constraints.

Success Criteria

You have successfully completed this lesson if:

• Your final floor plan clearly accommodates the required rooms for the seven members (beds, storage, common areas, practice room).
• The design demonstrates at least three creative solutions to common shared living problems (e.g., noise separation, storage).
• Your budget sheet is fully completed and stays within the $500,000 allocation.

I. Introduction (15 Minutes)

The Hook: An Emergency Design Brief

The CEO of Stellar Talent School (STS) is in a panic! The highly anticipated girl group, STS School Team Girls (STS-STG), has just secured a major deal, and they need a new, luxurious, and highly functional dormitory ASAP. You have been hired as the lead Spatial Designer. Your job is not just to make it pretty, but to make it work. The group has 7 members, all with different personalities and needs. Can you design their perfect home?

Setting the Scene: Defining the Client

• Group Size: 7 Members
• Primary Function: Living, practicing, filming content (V-Logs/Live Streams), and resting.
• Vibe/Aesthetics: Fun, structured, focused on teamwork, and highly professional.
• Budget Cap: $500,000 (Initial renovation and furnishing budget only; not purchasing the building).

II. Body: Design and Execution

A. I Do: Modeling the Needs Analysis (15 Minutes)

Educator/Trainer Models: I will demonstrate the crucial first step: understanding the client's non-negotiable needs versus their wants. I will model a simplified needs analysis for a single, imaginary K-Pop star’s private bedroom.

1. Identify Function: Sleep, Study, Practice Dance (privately).
2. Determine Spatial Requirements: Must fit a queen bed, a small desk, and leave a 6ft x 6ft open space for choreography practice.
3. Budget Check: Bed ($1,500), Desk ($300), Mirror Wall ($500). Total: $2,300. (Demonstrate tracking this on the budget sheet.)

Focus: Every design choice must be traceable back to a functional requirement or a budget line item.

B. We Do: Defining the STS-STG Requirements (25 Minutes)

Guided Practice: Learners work with the educator/peers to define the mandatory requirements for the entire dorm complex.

1. Required Spaces (Non-Negotiables):

Brainstorm with the learner/group. Use a Think-Pair-Share structure (If in a class, pair up; if solo, Think-Write-Share with the educator).

• Sleeping Quarters: Must house 7 members comfortably (can be 2-3 large rooms or 7 individual pods).
• Rehearsal/Practice Room: Large enough for 7 people to dance simultaneously. Needs soundproofing.
• Kitchen & Dining: Must accommodate simultaneous cooking and dining for 7.
• Common Area/Living Room: Comfortable seating for 7 and suitable for filming/interviews.
• Bathrooms: Recommended 3 minimum (showers/toilets).
• Storage: Extensive storage for clothes, luggage, albums, and fan gifts.

2. Initial Budget Allocation:

Allocate rough percentages of the $500,000 budget to major categories:

C. You Do: The Design and Budget Phase (45 Minutes)

Independent Practice: Learners execute their design based on the established parameters.

1. Floor Plan Sketching (Spatial Reasoning):

• Draw the floor plan to scale (or use grid paper where 1 square = 1 foot/meter).
• Clearly label the function of every room (e.g., "Main Vocalist Bedroom," "Choreography Studio," "V-Live Corner").
• Identify entry/exit points and workflow (how do the members move efficiently?).

2. Budget Finalization (Financial Literacy):

• Using the initial allocation as a guide, itemize the 10 most expensive purchases (e.g., soundproofing material, custom bunks, commercial kitchen oven).
• Ensure the total itemized cost remains under the $500,000 limit. (Encourage learners to research realistic costs for major items online).

3. Creative Addition:

• Incorporate one unique feature tailored to the STS-STG brand (e.g., a rooftop garden for relaxation, a custom vending machine stocked with energy drinks, a built-in selfie zone).

III. Conclusion (20 Minutes)

The Reveal: Presentation and Justification

Learners present their completed design and budget plan to the "CEO" (educator/peers). This serves as the summative assessment.

1. Gallery Walk/Presentation: Display the floor plan.
2. Justification: Explain the thought process. "I placed the rehearsal room far from the sleeping quarters to reduce noise pollution."
3. Budget Review: Show the final budget and explain where the largest investments were made and why (e.g., "We spent 5% more on soundproofing because practice time is non-negotiable").

Formative Assessment (Quick Checks during activity)

• Did the learner correctly allocate square footage to the practice room? (Check scale drawing).
• Is the learner struggling with budget estimation? (If so, provide specific online resources for furniture costs).

Summative Assessment

The final deliverables are evaluated against the Success Criteria:

1. Completed Floor Plan (25 points)
2. Detailed and Balanced Budget Sheet (25 points)
3. Design Justification/Presentation (25 points)
4. Inclusion of the STS-STG Unique Feature (25 points)

IV. Differentiation and Extension

Scaffolding (For Struggling Learners or Younger Learners)

• Pre-measured Template: Provide a pre-drawn outline of the building with established wall locations, requiring only furniture placement and room designation.
• Simplified Budget: Reduce the group size to 4 members and lower the overall budget, simplifying the complexity of required rooms. Focus only on three major budget categories.

Extension (For Advanced Learners or Longer Sessions)

• Advanced Budgeting: Require the learner to calculate the cost of *maintenance* (utilities, cleaning staff, security) for the first month of operation, forcing them to think about recurring costs.
• Digital Mockup: Require the learner to create a 3D digital visualization (using optional tools listed in materials) of the common area, including color palettes and specific furniture styles (e.g., "The aesthetic must be 'minimalist futurism'").
• Scenario Challenge: Introduce a conflict: "The group leader and the youngest member cannot agree on the bedroom layout. Design two distinct options that meet both needs without increasing the budget."