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

  • California District Debuts New High-School CTE Center

    The West Sonoma County Union High School District (WSCUHSD) in Sebastopol, Calif., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new CTE Center at Analy High School, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) for the facility’s design and GCCI for its construction, and funding came from local Measure A bond funds.

  • Western Kentucky University Breaks Ground on First Phase of $350M Student Housing Project

    Western Kentucky University (WKU) in Bowling Green, Ky., recently broke ground on the first phase of a $350-million student housing initiative, according to a news release. The university is partnering with Gilbane Development through a public-private partnership (P3) to replace aging residence halls and modernize on-campus living accommodations.

  • UPenn Announces Completion of New Veterinary Education Facility

    The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Penn., recently finished construction on an 11,800-square-foot veterinary education building, according to a news release. The Gail P. Riepe Center for Advanced Veterinary Education is the first dedicated classroom facility at the New Bolton Center, a large-animal hospital and campus about 35 miles west of the campus proper.

  • DLR Group Announces New Mid-Atlantic Higher Education Leader

    Integrated design firm DLR Group recently announced that it has promoted Principal Shawn Gaither, AIA, LEED AP, to the role of higher education leader in the Mid-Atlantic, according to a news release. Gaither has served with the firm for more than 20 years, most recently as the national higher education business development leader.