Rider University partnered with Spiezle Architectural Group to create a relaxation room for students, dubbed "The Zen Den." Built with mental health and wellness in mind, the space serves students in need of recharging and rejuvenating their mental well-being.
The lounge came to life from repurposing an old computer lab on the university's Lawrenceville, N.J., campus. Neighbored with the Student Affairs and Office of Equity and Inclusion, the Zen Den sits in the heart of the university, aligning with Rider's wellness goals.
Spiezle collaborated with multiple university organizations to design the space. With input from student governments and facilities operations groups, the firm landed on a design that fits a vast array of students' needs.
The 'Zen Den' biophilic design and soothing features
The Zen Den is split into zones to accommodate different aspects of mental well-being. With its wide array of furniture, the room can be configured in various ways to allow students unique ways of interacting with the environment. For example, sensory features like hexagon-shaped touch lights offer a calming way to engage with simulated nature. A large forest mural adds to the lounge's biophilic influence as well, alongside its use of wood and neutral furniture color tones.
Additional features of the Zen Den include large bean bags, lounge seating, and hanging chairs. According to Rider University, the space also benefits neurodivergent students who may have difficulties with overstimulation.
"Spiezle's exceptional work designing and creating this space exemplifies the need for an intentional place to quiet one's mind and spirit to counter the busyness of the day and the external environment," said Dr. Leanna Fenneberg, Vice President of Student Affairs at Rider University. "We didn't want this to be a study space; we wanted it to be a place to breathe and rejuvenate so students can return to their schoolwork feeling refreshed and restored."
Read more about Rider University's "Zen Den" here.
Related Stories
University Buildings | Jul 21, 2015
Maker spaces: Designing places to test, break, and rebuild
Gensler's Kenneth Fisher and Keller Roughton highlight recent maker space projects at MIT and the University of Nebraska that provide just the right mix of equipment, tools, spaces, and disciplines to spark innovation.
Sponsored | Higher Education | Jul 14, 2015
College upgrades and remediates riverfront campus with EPA funding
. Goodwin College needed to expand its facilities to accommodate student increase.
Sponsored | Higher Education | Jul 14, 2015
Charlotte’s Mosaic Village merges jazz and architecture
The 124,000-sf mixed-use project contains 80 apartments, accommodating 300 students with numerous amenities
University Buildings | May 19, 2015
Special Report: How your firm can help struggling colleges and universities meet their building project goals
Building Teams that want to succeed in the higher education market have to help their clients find new funding sources, control costs, and provide the maximum value for every dollar.
University Buildings | May 19, 2015
Renovate or build new: How to resolve the eternal question
With capital budgets strained, renovation may be an increasingly attractive money-saving option for many college and universities.
University Buildings | May 19, 2015
KU Jayhawks take a gander at a P3 development
The P3 concept is getting a tryout at the University of Kansas, where state funding for construction has fallen from 20% of project costs to about 11% over the last 10 years.
Building Team Awards | Apr 10, 2015
14 projects that push AEC teaming to the limits
From Lean construction to tri-party IPD to advanced BIM/VDC coordination, these 14 Building Teams demonstrate the power of collaboration in delivering award-winning buildings. These are the 2015 Building Team Award winners.
Building Team Awards | Apr 10, 2015
New arts venue reinvigorates Virginia Tech's campus
The STV-led Building Team creates a world-class performance and arts venue with learning and entrepreneurial dimensions.
Building Team Awards | Apr 9, 2015
IPD-driven fusion facility serves science and student life in Chicago
In dire need of modern science labs and a student union, North Park University built both—in the same building.
BIM and Information Technology | Apr 9, 2015
How one team solved a tricky daylighting problem with BIM/VDC tools, iterative design
SRG Partnership's Scott Mooney describes how Grasshopper, Diva, Rhino, and 3D printing were utilized to optimize a daylighting scheme at Oregon State University's new academic building.
