Stetson University’s leadership determined a new experiential learning facility with a focus on wellness would support their mission of accommodating increased student interest in STEM, Health Sciences, and Environmental Science programs.  The new building was designed to create spaces and experiences that will allow ideas, learning and interests to converge and evolve into ground-breaking discoveries and innovative pedagogy. A key focus was made to providing a community-facing element to the building to create interaction and outreach with the DeLand community in the health fields.

The University’s focus on interdisciplinary education guided and informed the program, planning and the design of the future building. Flexibility was intentionally integrated into the design to accommodate future growth of their Health Sciences, Environmental Studies, Environmental Science, Public Health and Counselor Education programs. The program includes active learning classrooms, wet labs, food lab/classroom, mental and behavioral health labs, research labs, faculty offices, and student study space. Kahler Slater partnered with local firm Harvard Jolly to deliver this project.