Student health and wellness has been a crucial element to cultivating a more meaningful environment for students and has become an integral part to the college experience. On average, students are older than they used to be. With the economic crisis, students today are feeling more anxiety as they approach entering the professional world.
Design must keep in mind privacy and confidentiality. Students should be able to feel comfortable seeking counseling services. Initial planning is at the utmost importance, strategizing with providers and the administration to learn about the functionality of the workstations and the flow of traffic. Bringing in the users and the different representatives on the committee allows for each of them to provide a voice.
Designers can explore different options and visit the various benchmarks through the design process. As the need for developing an inviting space increases, we must gain a better understand of what models work and should not be constrained by existing situations.The most dangerous thing to say is, "we've always done it this way". With changing cultural pedagogy and student demographics in educational facilities, we must think about the vision of the future and develop a design that supports the end goal.
Case Study: UC Davis Student Health and Wellness by WRNS Studio
The U.C. Davis Student Health and Wellness Center is ensuring the university’s student body remains healthy while setting a green example. Designed by WRNS Studio, the new 77,000 square-foot center is a comprehensive facility focused on providing for primary care services, women’s health, specialty clinics, counseling services, and health promotion and education. Set on a prominent location along one of the campus’s major circulation paths, the new health center is highly accessible to students. On the interior, modular assembly was used throughout the design to accommodate changes in technology and programmatic needs.
