CASE HISTORY:S T A T E O F F I C E S S O U T H A T T I F T C O L L E G E

2984 Clifton Springs Rd.Decatur, GA 30034404.244.5100www.gci-ga.com

Structure:� Remodeled Tift College Campus to house theGeorgia Department of Corrections offices andGeorgia Corrections Academy in 13 buildings

� 225,000 square feet

Furnishings:� FlexStation Desking

� System XXI Panels

� Library Casegoods Furniture

� Private Casegoods Offices

�Navigator,Dakota, Revelation, Snap&ComfortWorx Seating

� Series XXI Filing

� Portico Tables

Executive Casegoods Product

FlexStation Deskingwith Navigator Seating

“GCI provided labor after-hours to workaround the construction crews and provided

onsite support to ensure the project was completedon-schedule and on-budget.”—Barry Boalch

On Time, On Budget,& On the MarkWhen the Georgia Department of Corrections (GDC)decided to repurpose the sprawling 40-acre site of historicTift College, both GDC employees and Georgia citizensgave their enthusiastic support. An embodiment of the“One Georgia” concept, the thirteen-building campus waslarge enough to serve as a central location for the GDCoffices as well as the Georgia Corrections Academy.

The decision to preservemany of the historic exteriors oncampus made the creation of State Offices South at TiftCollege a renovation—one of the most massive renova-tions the state had undertaken. Projected to span fouryears, include a variety of educational and administrativeenvironments, and impact much of the department’s staffdirectly, the GDC carefully selected partners for theproject, including their subsidiary, Georgia CorrectionalIndustries (GCI).

Recognizing the opportunity presented by their parentcompany, GCI readily agreed to supply a host of productsand services for the project, including furnishings.From rendering proposed layouts to providing post-installation support, GCI was involved in all phases ofthe furniture selection, manufacturing, and installationprocesses. Preliminary layouts from Lord Aeck &

Sargent Architecture were sent to GCI for the completionof CAD spaceplans using ‘blocks’ that are to-scale toinsert furniture in each space and render 2D and 3Dlayouts, generating visuals of the finished product,according to Barry Boalch, GCI’s Director of Sales andMarketing.

Fulfilling the varied requests of the GDC offered GeorgiaCorrectional Industries the chance to showcase itemsfrom their standard product offering and create brandnew ones as they supplied everything from systemsfurniture and seating to traditional case goods and customcase work. Along with these opportunities, State OfficesSouth provided some very real challenges for GCI.

“The challenge GCI is particularly proud of meeting isthe completion of the project on-schedule and on-budget,given the compressed project timeline,” says Boalch.In its effort to meet those goals GCI made the most oftheir unique workforce, employing the inmates in themanufacturing and installation of the furniture. Theywere also able to exhibit flexibility as the project timelinechanged, working after hours and around the constructioncrews to meet deadlines.

“Working on this project with GDC allowed

us to cultivate relationships and gain a

newfound respect for each other’s jobs,

responsibilities, and contributions.”

In a different fashion, the maintenance-free durabilityof seating like Navigator, Dakota, and Revelation andthe flexibility of System XXI furniture and FlexStationdesking will make them easy to reconfigure as thecampus continues to evolve.

Amid all the change Tift College saw in its recentrenovation, the most profound may be a change inperspective. Although the Georgia Department ofCorrections is the parent company of Georgia

Correctional Industries, prior to this project, the twoorganizations had not had the opportunity to interactthis closely over such an extended period of time. Theconstant communication required to coordinate suchan expansive project led not only to a better end result,but an improved relationship between the organizationsthat is sure to persist well past the move-in date.

Library Casegoods Product

System XXI Panels, Series XXI Files and ComfortWorx Seating

Dakota Chairsand Portico Tables

Exceeding Expectationsin Every EnvironmentNot only were the central offices of theGeorgiaDepartmentof Corrections relocated, the Georgia CorrectionsAcademy also found a new home in State Offices Southat Tift College. Providing basic and advanced training forfacilities and probation correctional officers, the academyunites the mission of the historic buildings with the styleof the new occupants.

The academic environment allowed GCI to plan,create, and install furnishings for instructional classrooms,computer rooms, and lounges as well as dormitory, dininghall, and library spaces. While in many cases standardproducts with a well-established history were selected,GCI’s creativity shines through in large and small ways.Custom casegoods throughout the campus showcaseGCI’s commitment to quality and craftsmanship.

With selections that can be appreciated by both theend-users and the taxpayers, the furniture of State OfficesSouth is as cost-effective as it is aesthetically pleasing.The classic design and sturdy construction of the libraryand executive casegoods make them timeless.