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

  • Doerr School of Sustainability Accelerator

    From Concrete Warehouse to Innovation Hub: Accelerating Sustainability at Stanford

    The transformation of a once windowless, concrete publishing warehouse into a sun-drenched center for global innovation began with a single, fundamental challenge: how to turn an industrial storage shell into a space built for human connection.

  • Houston-Area High School Breaks Ground on 117,000SF Multi-Use Facility

    North Shore Senior High School, part of Galena Park ISD in Houston, Texas, recently broke ground on a new multi-use facility for student extracurriculars, according to a news release. The North Shore Multi-Use Facility will include dedicated practice and training space for the school’s athletics and fine arts programs.

  • Surging Demand for Student Housing Fuels Major Campus Investment Opportunities

    University leaders throughout the U.S. are accelerating plans to modernize and expand student housing as enrollment stabilizes and demand for on-campus living rebounds. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that total postsecondary enrollment is projected to grow through the end of the decade, with undergraduate enrollment alone expected to increase by more than 8 percent by 2030.

  • Can AI Help Build Stronger Communities in Student Housing?

    Student housing success is shifting from operational performance to student experience, with belonging now at the center. A recent 2025 report underscores a growing emphasis on student well-being, community, and engagement, signaling that expectations now extend beyond logistics to ensure students feel supported in their living environments. AI is enabling that shift by reducing administrative workload and giving teams more time to focus on meaningful student engagement.