Promoting wellness among college students is more important than ever. Ready to address increasing concerns over students’ struggles with anxiety and depression, the College of William & Mary needed a new facility that would inspire students to seek programs supporting the mind and body.

Asking “what can design do to improve campus health and wellbeing,” the Page team partnered with William & Mary to design the McLeod Tyler Wellness Center — a peaceful oasis in the heart of campus.

Taking advantage of a new central location, the center offers all major health-related facilities, services, and recreational programming under one roof. Students can meet with a physician, attend yoga class, exercise in the fitness center, or speak with a counselor — all in one location.

Nature takes center stage. Large windows optimize views of the adjacent wooded area and the wildlife flower refuge. Students rest in The Compassion and Zen Gardens or socialize on the outdoor patio. And inside, biophilic elements, water features, noise-absorbing materials, and therapeutic artwork harmonize to create a calming environment.

The College of William & Mary plans to use the new center to transform the story of health and wellbeing in this community, and the numbers prove that the center is doing just that. More than 80% of students feel physically and psychologically safe in the space, and 90% claim they would recommend the center’s services to others.

And what about the staff? Eighty percent found “the design of my workplace empowers me to be productive.” For William & Mary, the McLeod Tyler Wellness Center serves as an escape from the hustle and bustle of life on campus, a quiet place for healing and self-reflection.