Accordingly, Galvin, a studio director at the Cleveland architecture and interior design firm of Vocon, created a clean, simple interior design that uses contrasting materials, acoustics and simple planning to give users a sense of orientation through touch, sound and spatial organization.

“This building is a teaching tool, but it’s about real life,” Galvin said. “The goal is to help people get around in the real world.”

When finished next year after a gutting and interior reconstruction, the Sight Center will have a sharper, fresher look, with a layout that exploits the contrast between smooth terrazzo floors and nubbly-textured carpeting to give users cues about where they are.