Designing Wellness: How Recreation Spaces Are Transforming the Student Experience

In today’s higher education environment, recreation and wellness facilities are central to student success, engagement, and institutional competitiveness. As colleges and universities adapt to the expectations of Gen Z and prepare for Gen Alpha, the design of campus recreation and wellness spaces is undergoing a transformation—from fitness-focused centers to holistic wellbeing ecosystems that integrate mental, physical, and social health.

The Student Wellness Imperative

Recent studies show a powerful link between student wellness and academic outcomes. According to the American College Health Association, students who report better physical and mental health also report higher GPAs and graduation rates.¹ Simultaneously, campus mental health services have seen a sharp rise in demand, prompting institutions to rethink not just services, but spaces that foster preventative wellbeing.

Today’s students expect their campus to reflect their values—particularly around health, balance, and belonging. That’s why wellness design is no longer just about offering a gym; it’s about creating vibrant, accessible environments like the Utah Tech Human Performance Center where students can recharge, connect, move, and grow.

Spaces That Support the Whole Student

Our approach to wellness design integrates a wide range of programmatic elements to meet diverse student needs and reflect the cultural shift toward total well-being:

• Fitness and Recreation Centers: These remain essential, but with new emphasis on inclusivity—supporting all fitness levels with a mix of group classes, strength training, functional training zones, and outdoor recreation access.

• Wellness Hubs and Meditation Rooms: Designed for mental health and stress relief, these spaces offer quiet reflection, peer counseling zones, and drop-in access to support services.

• Multi-Purpose Studios: Flexible, technology-ready spaces that can shift from yoga to esports to workshops—offering creative programming that appeals to a broad student population.

• Outdoor Wellness Spaces: Trails, green space connections, fitness gardens, and shaded gathering areas that extend wellness beyond the walls and into the broader campus ecosystem.

Each of these spaces is strategically planned to reinforce positive behaviors and eliminate barriers to access—whether that means visibility from high-traffic zones, universal design for equity, or intuitive navigation that reduces anxiety and stigma.

Recruitment, Retention, and Campus Culture

Wellness matters to students—and to their parents. In fact, a recent ACUHO-I / Brailsford & Dunlavey survey found that wellness amenities are one of the top five factors influencing prospective students’ college decisions.² These facilities act as physical evidence of an institution’s commitment to student wellbeing—and, when designed right, become the heartbeat of campus life.

We design recreation and wellness centers not as stand-alone boxes, but as integrated hubs that connect to dining, housing, academics, and outdoor life. Their strategic location and transparent design invite participation, encourage chance encounters, and enhance a sense of community. They become a natural meeting place, fostering social engagement and campus cohesion, which are both directly linked to retention and student satisfaction.

Design That Moves with the Times

Today’s student wellness priorities evolve quickly—from HIIT workouts to forest bathing, esports to informed programming. We design with that agility in mind: flexible studios, reconfigurable commons, robust tech integration, and planning that anticipates growth and programmatic shifts.

And we understand that sustainability and wellness go hand-in-hand. Biophilic design, daylighting, smart HVAC systems, and materials that support healthy indoor air quality aren’t just features—they’re essential to creating high-performance buildings that support high-performance students.

Our Role: Designing Places that Build Better People

As designers, we love the fact that we get to design platforms for growth, resilience, and community. As we work closely with campus leadership, student life professionals, and students themselves to co-create spaces that respond to real needs and inspire real outcomes, it adds towards benchmarking that will continue to advance each project.

From recreation centers that double as event venues to wellness studios that host peer mentoring and programming, we craft spaces that work hard, feel welcoming, and adapt over time.

Wellness is a Competitive Advantage

In an era of rising mental health concerns, competitive recruitment, and evolving campus life, wellness is a key player in the overall strategy of student success. Institutions that prioritize wellness-centered design position themselves not only to attract top students, but to support them through graduation and beyond.

¹ American College Health Association (ACHA), National College Health Assessment, 2023
² Association of College and University Housing Officers – International (ACUHO-I) and Brailsford & Dunlavey, “Student Housing & Wellness Amenities Study,” 2022