The College of New Rochelle Wellness Center

New Rochelle, N.Y.
Construction Cost: $24 million
Area / Square Feet: 55,000
Occupancy Date: September 2008

The Wellness Center is organized centrally around a concourse that physically connects the building’s three levels, linking the natatorium, fitness center and changing/shower rooms on the lower level; the gymnasium, holistic meditation room and offices on the first floor; and the classrooms and running track on the second floor.

Augmented by abundant natural light, exposed concrete and regional granite are the main interior materials, and finishes used convey a serene and natural environment. Complementing this palette are translucent blue and green panels that add a sense of tranquility while preventing glare. The college wanted to construct a high-quality facility that would last at least 100 years, necessitating the use of durable and sometimes more expensive materials, including granite, poured-in-place concrete, aluminum and glass curtainwall.

The exterior is clad in the regional granite found on most of the buildings on the century-old campus. The adjacent 19th century residential neighborhood necessitated sensitivity with regard to the size and scale of the building, thus approximately a third of the program was submerged within the natural slope of the site. A roof with skylights allows natural light into many of the lower-level spaces, including the natatorium and fitness center.