Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

University of Nebraska at Kearney: Wellness Center

  • 05/01/16
University of Nebraska at Kearney: Wellness Center

PHOTOS © KESSLER PHOTOGRAPHY

The new Wellness Center at the University of Nebraska at Kearney rebrands wellness on campus, creating an inviting hub for student fitness and expanding the university’s leading-edge kinesiology research. Inspired by the school’s mission statement of “We are Difference Makers,” the LEO A DALY design team sought to promote self-discovery, sportsmanship, learning and an appreciation for personal wellness through architecture and interior design.

The two-story, $6.5 million addition moves the university’s workout facilities and human performance lab from landlocked isolation in the middle of the gym to a prominent place on the campus mall. The exterior “frame” concept functions as both advertisement and subtle metaphor, positioning wellness as a public, social activity. At night, the curved curtain wall glows as a beacon for campus wellness.

The sun-filled first floor encourages a lifestyle of fitness, favoring noncompetitive, group activities and providing space for socialization. Cardio takes center stage, separated from strength-training equipment. Three group-training rooms enable a robust schedule of yoga, Zumba and other workout classes. A 30-foot climbing wall offers an exciting challenge, and touchdown spaces, flexible block furniture and a juice bar enhance the social atmosphere.

“It’s laid out as a gathering place,” says Martin Lane, AIA, project manager with LEO A DALY. “It’s not just a place you work out; it’s a place you want to meet up with a friend.”

The second floor houses the Human Activity and Wellness Lab, a fast-growing, nationally recognized health science program distinctive for its community-centered outreach and wellness intervention. Dedicated workout equipment, a demonstration kitchen and specialized exam rooms allow the Kinesiology and Sport Sciences department to work with community members in groups, offer cooking and wellness classes and conduct obesity research.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Houston K–12 District Opens New Elementary School

    The Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (Lamar CISD) recently announced the completion of a new elementary school in a western suburb of Houston, Texas, according to a news release. Haygood Elementary School measures in at 110,000 square feet, has the capacity for 854 students, and is the first of three new schools scheduled to be built in the Cross Creek West community.

  • Chartwells Launches Campus Dining Evaluation Framework

    Contract food-service management provider Chartwells Higher Education recently announced the launch of BLUEPRINT, according to a news release. The evaluation framework was designed to provide a data-driven and customizable roadmap towards optimizing campus dining services and, by extension, the student experience.

  • UT System Approves First Funds for New Campus

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently approved funds to build the first facility of a new campus in far west Fort Worth, Texas, according to university news. UTA West will serve as a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington and is scheduled to open in fall 2028.

  • Hawaii Elementary School Breaks Ground on New Classroom Building

    Kealakehe Elementary School in Kailua, Hawaii, recently began construction on a new, $16-million classroom building for its campus, according to a news release. The 13,000-square-foot building will stand two stories and connect the existing upper and lower campuses.