Holdrum Middle School Wellness Center

River Vale, New Jersey

Firm

LAN Associates

Client

River Vale Board of Education

Area

10,807 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$5,870,000

Completion Date

06/2023

Keith Williams

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The Holdrum Middle School Wellness Center blurs the line between inside and outdoors to provide a serene respite for students at the River Vale, New Jersey, school. The addition is part of a larger renovation that took a holistic design approach to improving student well-being and improving traffic flow through new school corridors.

Biophilic design elements with detailed finishes set the tone for the space, which has large glass walls on three sides that provide ample natural light. The glass wall facing the connected Living Learning Courtyard contains an operable partition that completely opens up, blending the indoor and outdoor spaces. Adaptability is at the forefront of the indoor space, which can be rearranged to host everything from traditional lessons to yoga and community gatherings. The Wellness Center is flanked on each side by small rooms for collaboration and counseling. The exterior glazed walls are adorned with solar shade blades.

The new corridors outside the Wellness Center feature artificial grass walls, breakout nooks for students to gather, and biophilic-infused graphics and branding throughout to improve wayfinding.