Healthy Building, Healthy Students — Inside the Class of 1974 Center
22 October 2025
Photos by Brandon Stengel
“We wanted to create a transformational space, one that physiologically changes you as you approach and enter it. Our other aim was to make sure everything is accessible, that resources are visible, but still private.”
—Christopher Fischer P ’25, P ’29, lead project architect, BWBR
“Carleton is way ahead of the curve,” says Marit Lysne, director of Student Health and Counseling (SHAC), of a recent trend in higher ed of merging mental and physical health services. “Since I arrived on campus 25 years ago, SHAC has offered fully integrated healthcare.” The new Class of 1974 Center continues this commitment as a one-stop, holistic health provider centering student health, well-being, and accessibility. The facility moves SHAC from its “temporary” home of 30 years in former dormitory rooms in Davis Hall to a 23,000-square foot building that also houses the Office of Accessibility Resources, the Title IX office, and Human Resources.
“The Class of 1974 wanted to build a bridge to classes at Carleton today and classes coming forward to provide support they need that we didn’t have or didn’t know we needed because times were different,” says Cathy James Paglia ’74, P ’18 of the rationale behind her class committing a significant portion of its $65 million Reunion gift toward the center. “Our goal,” adds Paglia, who is also chair of the Board of Trustees, “is that every student gets whatever help and support they need to be successful.”
Embodying Accessibility — Carleton’s first standalone health building, the three-story center is designed to be human-scale, not imposing, with a recessed garden level and organic surfaces of brick and natural wood that add to this effect. Its entrances are fully accessible to individuals on foot, in wheelchairs, and using mobility scooters, and inside, every restroom is a private, single-use space for use by all genders.
Room for Health — The center has space for current needs, plus room to expand services. Amenities include a group counseling room, two dedicated telehealth spaces (no more video conferencing with a provider from a dorm room with the potential of a roommate overhearing), 10 one-on-one counseling rooms, offices, lab spaces, a new procedure room, and more.
A Welcoming Design — The heart of the building is bounded by glass, which offers plentiful natural light and views that connect the facility to its surroundings, the Willis Hall tower out one side, a Northfield church steeple out the other. All rooms, even interior ones, get direct or indirect sunlight, thanks to floor-to-ceiling exterior windows and interior cut-outs. Even the building’s curved edges were considered to make the space welcoming. “We designed in radius corners to soften the approaches to the building from a mental health standpoint,” says project architect Christopher Fischer P ’25, P ’29.
Clean Air, Green Tech — All occupied spaces are equipped with Smart VAV (variable air volume) technology, which monitors carbon dioxide, the byproduct of human respiration, to determine how much air to circulate or whether to shut off completely if no one is present. Coupled with a MERV 13 filter, it saves energy while keeping rooms free of airborne particulates.
Focus on Comfort — SHAC’s waiting area features seating cubbies to provide a safe, cozy atmosphere for those awaiting service—and a shared reception space continues the work of destigmatizing: as with the old location, no one will know if you’re there for prescription advice, a counseling session, blood draw, eating disorder treatment, or reproductive health care.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities — Each year, the Office of Accessibility Resources serves around 250 students with disabilities who qualify for accommodations across all areas of campus life, including academics, housing, and cocurricular activities. Its new office has more room for campus programming that supports, celebrates, and educates about disability and accessibility, plus additional space—two private rooms and 14 study carrels—for students needing a reduced-distraction environment for academic testing.
Sustainability — As with all new Carleton buildings, environmental impact is paramount here, with key features including rooftop solar panels, triple-pane glass, and high-efficiency insulation. The building was built to LEED Gold standards, but upon final certification it’s likely to be designated Platinum, the highest level of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’s rating system.
