Call to Action: Evaluate existing facilities for rooms that may be transformed into multi- sensory spaces or consider programming such spaces into new buildings. Consider including some of the elements found to be most preferred in reducing perceived anxiety and stress in educational facility design.

Abstract: In a post-pandemic world, students are more stressed and anxious than ever before. Managing an academic workload under such circumstances is difficult, and many academic institutions are exploring ways to support their students’ mental health. Multi-sensory environments are spaces that are designed to stimulate or sooth an individual’s senses to promote positive emotions, facilitate relaxation, and foster a sense of control and choice. Could such spaces be an effective tool for positively impacting student mental health? Stantec partnered with the University of North Carolina Greensboro to conduct a study on multi-sensory rooms for college students. Through the study, we discovered the effect of such spaces on perceived anxiety and stress, the strategies students use to cope with stress, and what elements within these environments are most effective. This presentation shares the results of this study along with insights and design strategies for including multi-sensory environments in educational settings.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss the benefits of multi-sensory experiences for students.
2. Identify strategies students use to cope with stress.
3. Identify sensory elements preferred by students.
4. Evaluate the factors influencing the use of multi- sensory environments by students.