Gleason Library is the only non-residential study space on the River Campus that’s open 24/7 during the academic year. Students can be found cramming for tests and utilizing the reservable project rooms at all hours of the day, especially during finals season.
Take 5 Scholar, Geneva Hinkson had a vision to transform the space at the busiest time of year with NAUTILUS, a pop-up project that encourages students to immerse themself in tranquility.
NAUTILUS is a 4ft x 8ft cube made of aluminum tubing and acrylic panels, adorned with a lush green dome of woven wire and vegetation. The pop-up is equipped with a VR headset for users to enjoy Guided Meditation’s virtual reality app experience inside the cube. The frosted walls give users some privacy while they take a break from their studies.
In combination with the Take Five program on artistic placemaking, virtual reality, and UX design and the Meliora Scholar’s $3,000 award, Hinkson conceived, designed, and installed this communal space.
She focused on incorporating biophilic elements like the inclusion of an astroturf and color therapy to improve student wellness.
“Things like stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation, and depression are all things students reported as affecting their academic performance and they were all increasing over those two years,” she added. “So I thought about meeting students where they are. The space that often gets used (for this) is Gleason (Library).
Gleason Library stuck out to her because of its high volume of student activity at all hours of the day and during finals week, a common sleeping location for students flooded with work. For many, Gleason becomes a home away from home for students attempting to survive their exams.
“That’s where this project began emerging for me,” she added. “What would it look like to create a space that lets you escape without leaving the environment?”
NAUTILUS is designed to be an oasis amidst the chaos—a serene space for meditation, relaxation, and rejuvenation during those high-stress moments. Hinkson intends this botanical environment to give students a chance to recharge during exam season.
“Even if they don’t use it, anything that serves as a visual cue to rest, relax, and pause is beneficial,” Hinkson said.
Her goal with this project was not only to show students the benefit of self-care but to show that student-initiated projects on campus can be well-received.
University Libraries Interim Dean Maurini Strub said, “One of the things that really excited me about this project was the intersection of everything in service of making a better, healthier experience for our students,” Strub said. “It’s using library spaces. It’s using (virtual reality headsets from) Studio X. It’s exactly the kind of thing that very much embodies the spirit of the libraries.”
This pop-up project is set to be up between May 1-18 in Gleason Library. After its initial run, NAUTILUS will be relocated to the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, a local conflict resolution, peacebuilding, and community non-profit.
