TESSERE Architecture's Higher Education division has been working with Barclay College in Haviland, KS to bring a future, multi-use wellness center to life on campus. The guiding thought for the center is to be designed to serve the needs of both Barclay College and the Haviland community.
With a “student union” type feel, the 44,200-square-foot facility is meant to be a destination featuring a gym and fitness center, student education areas, office space, and retail and dining options. Located near the community’s soccer complex, the Wellness Center features many options for public use.
The building’s main feature is a regulation-sized gym to replace the current facility, capable of hosting the College’s basketball and volleyball events. Support areas for the gym include locker rooms for men’s and women’s team home and visiting teams, coaches, and referees along with a team room for film viewing. A walking track that rounds the gym at the second-story level, as well as the fitness center, will be accessible for public use. Barclay wanted to prioritize giving the local, growing population of seniors in Haviland a safe place to exercise.
A department office suite, lab, and education spaces for the College’s new nursing program will be housed on the second floor. 
The main level/lobby of the facility will contain several spaces for eateries and retail, including a College book store. Designed to give a “Main Street” feel this area is meant to give students a place to study and socialize, community members a place to shop and dine, and those attending campus events or soccer tournaments a place to relax. Bathrooms within the facility are hardened to provide public storm shelters.
A playground located between the soccer fields and the Wellness Center will give families with younger children a safe space to play while older siblings are on the soccer field. A large outdoor patio that overlooks the soccer field will be available to be utilized for campus events and to be rented by the public.
The project is anticipated to be completed in 2024. TESSERE is proud to partner with Barclay College in providing architectural, interior design, civil engineering, construction administration, cost estimating, and landscape architectural services to bring this project to life.
