The Highmark Center for Health, Wellness and Athletics is a new paradigm for holistic student health on campus. By co-locating University Health Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, Wellness Initiatives, Religious and Spiritual Life Initiatives, and Athletics, as well as spaces for quiet contemplation and gathering, the Highmark Center supports the interconnected emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of students.

While a prominent campus location, across from neighboring Schenley Park, the constrained site posed a significant challenge to the ambitious combination of student services planned for the building. The careful integration of the historic 1924 Skibo Gymnasium, as well as SCMs in new concrete, contributed to a substantial reduction in embodied carbon. Other original materials were reused and made visible throughout the Highmark Center, including the wood gym floors that now line the second-floor concourse wall and the copper fascia that accentuates the entry to the Wellness Suites on the first floor.

Ample glazing, primarily in the Highmark Center’s gathering areas, allows for abundant natural light and campus views. Over 80% of the site’s open spaces are vegetated, primarily with plantings designed to survive without irrigation. A tranquil outdoor space within the Highmark Center, the Posner Family Wellness Garden provides faculty and students with a sheltered place for contemplation and respite. These strategies and more reflect Carnegie Mellon University’s commitment to providing students with holistic wellness services and the support they need to navigate the challenges of academic life.

The Highmark Center for Health, Wellness and Athletics project team included Mascaro (General Contractor), Langan (Civil Engineer), AEI (Mechanical Engineer), KPFF Consulting Engineers (Structural Engineer), OJB (Landscape Architect), and BranchPattern (LEED Consultant & Commissioning Provider).