WPI Center for Well-Being

Worcester, Massachusetts

Firm

Lamoureux Pagano Associates Architects

Client

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Area

17,500 sq.ft.

Total Cost

$10,000,000

Completion Date

12/2022

Bruce T. Martin

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Worcester Polytechnic Institute needed a space that could serve as a campus hub for a comprehensive and holistic set of services to address the community’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Existing space was available in a central location on campus, but it required substantial renovation to meet programmatic needs and aesthetic preferences.

Among the features of the new Center for Well-Being is a large, comfortable central space where students can gather or sit quietly to read, study, or meditate. Small offices are available for peer counseling; another important element is a room for wellness classes like yoga or group meditation. The overall design was meant to co-locate wellness programs with the college’s existing health services to meet a broader range of needs.

Soothing muted colors, natural design elements, including a water feature built into the wall, and large windows to the outside throughout the space contribute to a peaceful environment that is simultaneously removed from the stresses of campus life but central to where the community lives and learns.