Student Health + Wellness Center University of Virginia
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A New Model for Student Healthcare
The Student Health and Wellness Center, designed by VMDO and Duda Paine Architects, showcases cutting-edge design around comprehensive and innovative student health services with an expanded emphasis on well-being and preventive healthcare as the signature of the new facility. The new 240,000 sf building will not only significantly increase Student Health’s capacity to address new and expanding needs, but it will also integrate student life and healthcare together by introducing students to critical aspects of social, physical, psychological, personal, and environmental well-being.
The project brings together all the major campus health departments – General Medicine, Gynecology, Counseling & Psychological Services, Office of Health Promotion, and the Student Disability Access Center – as well as the Kinesiology Department and student well-being spaces.
– Jim Ryan University President University of Virginia
“This is not a traditional student health center. Instead, the idea is to take a holistic approach on well-being. ”
The significance of the Student Health + Wellness Center is reinforced by its location on Brandon Avenue, a precinct master plan envisioned as a semi-urban, pedestrian-oriented space. UVA chose the site to define a new campus destination for students and to help weave together Central Grounds and the Health System Campus. Collectively, the facility and its neighbors expand the functions of a traditional health center by creating a space holistically focused on student well-being embedded within both a residential and academic neighborhood. To allow the Center to seamlessly integrate with the master plan, there was a desire to restrain the scale of the overall building, creating a compact footprint and maintaining a porous quality at street level that complemented its walkable context. Special consideration was given to how all four facades and circulation routes help stitch the building into the surrounding campus, with detailing reflecting the University’s classical hierarchies. The ground floor includes a great amount of glazing that creates strong connections to the outdoors and promotes open access to the facility’s various programs and services.
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Integration at the Campus Scale
BOND HOUSEBICEHOUSE AND WELLNESS MONROETHE EUNIOA GARAGESOUTH CEMETERYLEEOPSC BRANDON AVE. MONROE FOSTERLANESITE THE PARK SOUTH CONNECTORLAWN QUADTHE COBB HALL RUPPEL DRIVE UPPER CLASS HOUSING PHASE II
Student Health + Wellness · University of Virginia8 Level 1 Floor Plan Main Multi-PurposeLivingLobbyReceptionEntranceRoom Room Teaching StudentPharmacyKitchenDisability Access Center MeditationWellness(SDAC)RoomRooms LactationLounge Room Central Supply / Storage Gordie Center Peer Education Workroom Student Workroom Office of Health Promotion (OHP) Work Area Recovery + Ally Clubhouse 1 11 2 12 3 13 4 14 5 15 6 16 7 17 8 18 9 19 10 1 1 32 7 8 910 11 12 13 14 17 18 19 1615654
Student Health + Wellness · University of Virginia 9 Level 2 Floor Plan BalconyLoungeLobby Physician + Nurse Office Medical FinancialRecordsRecords General Medicine Nurse Station PathologyCharting Lab ExamResearchRooms 1 7 2 8 3 9 4 10 5 12116 1 32 10 11 3 4 5 6 7 8 812 12 12 12 8 9 99 9 8 8
Student Health + Wellness · University of Virginia10 Level 3 Floor Plan GeneralLobby LockerGymShellRadiologyArtOasisInformationExecutiveAdminDirectorSystemsLoungeTherapySpaceRoom Kinesiology Reception Treadmill AMPEASILVestibularLabLabLabLab DAN Lab Vascular Lab Wet OpenLabWorkspace + FacultyCollaborationOffices 1 11 2 12 3 13 4 14 5 15 6 16 7 17 8 18 9 201910 1 2 3 7 8 9 10 11 1312 14 171820 19 15 16 4 5 6
Student Health + Wellness · University of Virginia 11 Level 4 Floor Plan RoofShellLobbySpaceTerrace Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Group MechanicalTherapy 1 4 32 65 1 2 33 4 5 5 5 5 6
“We are not just a sick-model center; we are also looking at, ‘What can we do for those students who are well?’”
– Dr. Chris Holstege Executive Director of Student Health University of Virginia
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Creating SynergiesCommunityHealthy
One of the key goals of the project is to improve the patient experience, especially around access, inclusivity, and navigation. The entire building is organized around an open and light-filled entry and multi-story lobby, while generous windows invite daylight into all departments, improving orientation and wayfinding. On the ground floor, level with the exterior ground plane to optimize visibility and accessibility, the Office of Health Promotion presents the ‘first stop’ for students, while the Student Disability Access Center is convenient and central overlooking the south pond. Many spaces on the ground level create opportunities for program synergies and community outreach. A pharmacy and retail space will bring an important amenity to this new residential and academic neighborhood. A teaching kitchen provides space for classes that will focus on healthy eating habits and nutrition. An Education/Multi-Purpose space adjacent to the main lobby supports functions such as yoga, special events, staff meetings, and wellness education.
The promotion of campus wellness moves away from the task of simply treating sick students, and towards a model of supporting all aspects of a student’s well-being through the provision of education and expanded services for healthy students. Much of this was done to enhance the work of the University’s Office of Heath Promotion, and support Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS). By putting these spatial programs at the forefront, while carefully considering privacy and comfort, the facility directly addresses, supports, and destigmatizes issues for the student population, such as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and sexual assault care.
The wellness center also doubles as a research center, including a dedicated research pod that can support studies and trials as well as training led by Student Health, the Medical School, or the Nursing School. A holistic approach to care, facilitated by collaboration and information sharing, serves as a new standard for college campuses, teaching students what good healthcare can and should look like.
Cutting HolisticServices,EdgeCare
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“All of the decisions in there - from the design to the furniture to the natural lighting from the windows - are researched and specifically designed in order to increase a person’s well-being.”–JamieLeonard Director of the Office of Health Promotion University of Virginia
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Comfort Accessibility+ in Navigation
Despite the wide range of functions and space types in the Center, the building purposely brings ease and legibility to wayfinding between departments and services, while still protecting privacy. To overcome the large scale of the building, and support the Center’s integrated approach to healthcare, each of the departments have front doors off of the main entry lobby. Visual connections between floors and windows at the ends of corridors provide light, views, and aid in orientation.
The overall approach to the interior design is both welcoming and soothing. Healthy, natural materials were selected wherever possible and specific color choices were made based on the notion of healing. A streamlined graphics and wayfinding system provides clarity of place and direction, and contributes to a comfortable student experience.
Engaging CommunityUniversitythe
The mission of the Student Health + Wellness Center demanded that the design team truly understand the needs and experience of the student body. VMDO worked with the University of Virginia to organize on-campus feedback sessions, intensive workshops with students, staff, and teachers from across the University, and even participated in undergraduate design studios with projects focused on the upcoming building. Input from these sessions made a direct impact on design outcomes, from providing almost all gender-neutral, single user restrooms to the development of the Oasis Room.
Scan to see our engagement in action
Workshops also incorporated the best technological resources to improve feedback, including virtual reality simulations of building navigation and accessibility. This integrated approach to engagement allowed various departments to exchange ideas and envision a truly shared space rooted in a greater drive towards equity.
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For more information on Community Health work, please Joecontact:Celentano, AIA, LEED AP celentano@vmdo.com Randy Livermon, AIA, LEED AP BD+C livermon@vmdo.com For more information on Student Health + Wellness, please contact: Michelle Amt, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP amt@ CHARLOTTESVILLEvmdo.com OFFICE 200 East Market Street Charlottesville, VA 22902 WASHINGTON DC OFFICE 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Suite Washington,7000 DC 20006 vmdo.com | 434.296.5684