Duke University, Student Wellness Center

Durham, North Carolina

Firm

Duda Paine Architects

Client

Duke University

Area

71,700 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$27,113,696

Completion Date

03/2017

Design team: Stewart, Inc. (Structural + Civil Engineer, Landscape Architect), Newcomb & Boyd (MEP Engineer), Cline Bettridge Bernstein Lighting Design (Lighting Design)

The new Student Wellness Center at Duke University presents a groundbreaking combination of clinical care with programs and resources to expand the role of wellness in students’ lives. Strategically situated within the Campus Center amidst its student life and athletics facilities, the center, for the first time in Duke’s history, consolidates all student health and wellness departments into one location. In addition to Student Health, Counseling and Psychological Services, the building accommodates student case management, pharmacy, dental, physical therapy and multipurpose spaces. This diverse array of programs enables the entire campus community to meet, find balance, and focus on wellness.
The design’s three-story atrium lobby infuses the building with natural light. A monumental entry stair follows a translucent wall up through the space to celebrate the intersection of care, prevention and social interaction. To integrate an authentic sense of nature and minimize the project’s environmental impact, oak harvested from the site and locally milled was used extensively for interior surfaces and seating. A contemplative garden reinforces connections between the environment and personal wellness.