
Contemporary university environments can be very stressful places, particularly for young adults. Often students encounter social and cultural diversity for the first time when they live on campus. Attitudes and habits of living are learned at this stage of life that can affect health and wellness throughout the lifespan. Foundations are set for life-long learning, nutrition, exercise, socialization and intimacy. But, addressing the needs of a very diverse student body requires creative thinking to optimize the use of existing resources.
This studio explored the idea of mixing different uses in one building to produce a living, working and leisure environment that supports mind-body balance. Principles of inclusive design were applied through the lens of “biophilic design” to demonstrate how synergistic space for residences, creative production, and wellness can create an interesting architecture and enliven a university campus.