LAN’s design of the Wellness Center at Holdrum Middle School in River Vale, New Jersey has been awarded the Special Citation Award by American School & University. The project, which includes the Wellness Center and accompanying Living Learning Courtyard, was featured in the publication’s recent Educational Interiors Showcase.
Funded by a 2021 referendum, the Wellness Center is part of a new addition that blurs the line between the indoor and outdoor environment to provide a serene respite for students while also adding new corridors to the school to improve student traffic flow.
Biophilic design elements with detailed finishes set the tone for the space, which has large glass walls on three sides that provide ample natural light. The glass wall facing the connected Living Learning Courtyard contains an operable partition that completely opens up, blending the indoor and outdoor spaces. Adaptability is at the forefront of the indoor space, which can be rearranged to host everything from traditional lessons to yoga and community gatherings. The Wellness Center is flanked on both sides by small rooms for collaboration and counseling, and the exterior glazed walls are adorned with solar shade blades to reduce direct sunlight without sacrificing natural light.
“A variety of flexible spaces—the space is thoughtfully planned, from spatial organization to finishes and furniture, conveying a much-needed holistic vision for student well-being,” remarked the American School & University jury regarding the LAN-designed middle school space.
The Living Learning Courtyard is a peaceful gathering space for students that accommodates events and performances. The large lawn areas allow for group activities, and several community gardens provide an opportunity for students to bring science lessons to life. The peaceful environment is highlighted by flowers and greenery, while masonry seating walls throughout the space complement the relaxing atmosphere and provide seating opportunities for students.
“The goal was to make an inviting and relaxing atmosphere in the wellness center and accompanying addition,” said LAN Senior Associate Matthew Fink, lead architect and project manager for the Holdrum Middle School project. “To that end, we focused on integrating elements such as natural light, plants, and natural materials into the project because these biophilic design elements have been shown to improve well-being, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve the overall emotional health of students and educators.”
The new corridors outside the Wellness Center connect what was once a series of dead-end hallways, providing new routes to get to class. These hallways embrace the same design elements as the wellness center featuring artificial grass walls, breakout nooks for students to gather, and biophilic-infused graphics throughout to improve wayfinding.
LAN Associates is a full-service architecture and engineering firm that provided architectural, construction administration, and civil, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering services in support of completing the Holdrum Middle School Wellness Addition. This award-winning design was part of a $34M school bond referendum approved by voters in April 2021. In addition to the wellness space, LAN has also provided capital improvements to the two other schools within the River Vale district.
American School & University is a national publication focused on educational architecture. LAN’s design of the Holdrum Middle School’s Wellness Center is featured in its August 2024 issue alongside projects from other top design firms who were recognized in this year’s competition.
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