The student health center at the University Park campus of Penn State, State College, Pa., welcomes students with expanded facilities and a strong focus on wellness.
Situated in a prominent place on campus between student residence halls, the health center features floor-to-ceiling windows that allow for natural light in the lobby and waiting areas, and an art gallery. Students can stop in and use a laptop or hang out in a lounge-like setting, while being informally introduced to health-related resources such as online appointment setup, a full-service pharmacy, health-education resource library and seminar conferencing area.
Treatment and counseling space are separate zones that re-iterate the center's commitment to privacy. The center features dedicated spaces for group therapy, relaxation and meditation, waiting rooms, 60 exam rooms and a color-coded wayfinding system to the waiting areas.
The health center also has several sustainable features. Its green roof will help absorb water runoff, and reduce heating and cooling costs.
The architect is RMJM (Philadelphia).
Start: Fall 2006
Completion: Fall 2008
Project area: 64,000 sq. ft.
Cost: $26 million
