The Heart of Campus Life: Student Centers and Community Building

When designing for higher education, it’s important to consider classrooms and academic spaces that support diverse learning styles as well as comfortable residence halls that foster belonging and mental wellness. But what about the other spaces that students encounter in their daily lives? Student centers — or student commons — are among the most important spaces on any college or university campus.  

When thoughtfully designed with students in mind, these spaces can support student wellbeing and contribute to an overall sense of belonging by allowing space for students to relax and socialize outside of classroom walls. Student centers promote community by providing venues for extracurricular activities and events. They can also enhance the student residential experience by offering comfortable dining options and recreational facilities that improve student quality of life.  All combined, they are a valuable investment that can boost student recruitment and retention while improving campus life.  

Below are some key themes we’re seeing in student center design that emphasize the community-building qualities of these spaces.  

Student centers today are places where students can see and be seen, engaging with their peers in whichever way they are most comfortable. Multifunctional spaces including meeting rooms, maker spaces, art studios, or gaming labs support collaboration and co-curricular activity while creating additional opportunities for connection and engagement.  

Outside of programmed spaces, common areas can be designed to support varying scales of gathering, offering creative breaks from the rigors of academic life. Breakout rooms can support study groups and informal gatherings while study nooks or hideaways can offer a place of respite for individuals who are seeking solitude.  

The inclusion of gender-inclusive bathrooms or multi-faith prayer rooms can promote belonging for students of all identities while universal design principals in building design, material choices, and furniture can create a welcoming space for individuals of all shapes, sizes, and abilities. 

Design-wise, this “see and be seen” atmosphere often comes through in buildings that highlight transparency. Ample glazing allows abundant daylight and campus views, creating a visual and often physical connection to campus green spaces. From the exterior, these buildings also highlight internal activity, drawing students in and encouraging them to feel at home.  

The Hub at Clemson University is a great example of a student center that provides a visual connection to campus. In addition to its transparent front facade showcasing active student life, the building is carefully planned and sited to unify the Douthit Hills resident hall community with the old main campus, sending a message to students in the community that they are connected to the larger Clemson campus.  

While it is important to foster inclusion and belonging in all campus spaces, it is perhaps most important in buildings like student centers, which are designed to provide students with a “home away from home.”  

Student centers often incorporate food services in the form of either full-service dining operations, student restaurants, or grab and go convenience stores. In addition to providing extra convenience, these dining options bring people together because everyone needs to heat. These spaces encourage social gathering and community building, while supporting student health. 

Recent trends in student dining design involve a push for more inclusive dining options like allergen-free, halal, vegan, gluten-free, or more. Expanded operation hours, including late-night options, can also improve food accessibility for both commuter and residential students. By accommodating various dining preferences and schedules, campuses can once again send a message to students that they belong.  

Micro-restaurants serving a variety of food options are also becoming more common, offering students more choices in both menu options and dining style.  A new emphasis on visible food preparation can also offer opportunities for education and transparency when it comes to food quality.  

At Yahentamitsi Dining Hall at the University of Maryland, environmental graphics are incorporated throughout the dining facility to share information about the Piscataway peoples, upon whose land the university sits. These graphics, along with an inclusive menu and an open, micro-restaurant-style design, help foster a truly welcoming and enriching space.  

Outside of dining, students are often drawn to student centers because of necessary services like laundry facilities, mail and package services, Amazon lockers, or convenience stores. Student centers can offer high speed Wi-Fi, tech-enabled study pods, or other media equipment to support academic needs. Nontraditional or commuter students without access to a residence hall might need a comfortable place to sit and relax between classes, or even shower. When designing a student center space, it is important to think through the needs of every possible user to ensure it serves its purpose as a home away from home for a wide variety of users.  

Students living on campus face unique stresses related to academic workloads, interpersonal relationships, and more. Student centers can be a valuable space to provide resources supporting both mental and physical health.  

Fitness centers or multipurpose studios for yoga or dance provide a purpose-built area where students can exercise, try new activities, and express themselves. Meditation rooms or mental health counseling spaces provide room for reflection, pause, and inner reflection.  

Attached outdoor spaces can also provide a benefit for student centers, providing flexible areas for gathering and leisure, while connecting students with nature.  

Sustainability 

Student center design should align with broader campus sustainability and carbon reduction goals, both in practice and design. Because of their stature as core campus buildings, they are often good places to invest in green roofs, mass timber construction, or geothermal heating and cooling systems.  

Additional design choices like signage and wayfinding can influence student behaviors by providing educational information on campus sustainability efforts, fostering a sense of environmental responsibility. 

Student centers can also be a good place for promoting social sustainability on campus, by offering services for first-generation students or those facing hardships – counseling services, low-cost meal exchange programs or food pantries, or even career closets where students can find suitable clothes for job interviews. 

An Important Piece of Campus Life  

When designed effectively, student centers provide a space where students of all interests and backgrounds can find support and community. Working collaboratively with residence halls and academic buildings, these spaces can go a long way toward promoting a culture of belonging.  

Learn more about our work designing for student life.