The Nexus: Healthy Student Living at the Library

Abstract

With nearly 80% of students in the United States consistently experiencing moderate to high levels of stress and a significant proportion attributing stress to poor academic performance, there is a clear imperative to explore innovative design solutions. Drawing on the field of neuroarchitecture, this thesis investigates how architectural design can positively influence the physical, psychological, emotional, and social experiences of university users. This thesis addresses the pressing need for university libraries and student housing that better support student well-being and learning capabilities. Neuroarchitecture, a field that integrates neuroscience, environmental psychology, and architecture, speaks to the psychological effects that a building’s design decisions can have on the user’s experience of the space. One main contributor to a positive experience within a building includes the use of biophilic design principles. This offers a unique opportunity to study the neurological effects and prominent biophilic principles that create a calming, rejuvenating, inspirational, and focus-inducing space. This thesis will apply strategies derived from neuroarchitecture principles to the design of university libraries.