View the article in full here in its original format.

Building or renovating a campus recreation center for today’s generation of students requires a broad approach that encompasses several factors that may not have been in play when existing facilities were designed. Emily Parris, a senior associate at Sasaki who was heavily involved in the programming and design of the new recreation and wellbeing master plan at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, offers the following four strategies for making your next campus recreation project a success.

1. Consider your entry sequence from a sensory perspective. A welcoming environment is different for everyone. Features such as loud music, turnstiles and specialty lighting may inadvertently create accessibility barriers for some community members.
2. Diversify programming spaces to intentionally invite people into your facility who you might not already attract. Spaces dedicated to mindfulness and rest, social wellbeing and connection to the outdoors may encourage more of your campus community to engage with the facility.
3. Employ natural light and clarity of circulation, timeless design features that drastically impact success for the life of the building. Prioritize good daylighting, views to the outdoors and intuitive wayfinding as a basis of design.
4. Start a conversation with your campus population. Your unique community knows what fuels them. Use surveys, graphics and group listening sessions to invite a variety of stakeholder perspectives into the design process.