| Summary: | College and university campuses have long been designed as embodied places of
societal values and aspirations, reflecting both academic traditions and heritages
alongside social and scientific change and innovation. More pragmatically, these spaces
share some commonalities with other living and working environments, and must adapt
to changing technological and social norms. Since the 1970’s, workplace adaptations
included employer-sponsored health promotion programs and facilities. While campus
environments such as fitness centers and dining halls have been incorporated into
health promotion initiatives, other aspects of human well-being have been neglected.
In this paper, we describe an initiative, Contemplation By Design, to incorporate
contemplation and mindfulness into the daily lives of all members of the Stanford
University community, including students, faculty, staff, and their families, as well as
alumni and retirees who live close by. This case study highlights ways that physical
planning and programmatic initiatives for contemplative practices have been integrated
to deliver generalizable, community-based well-being resources that can be emulated
in diverse settings throughout the Stanford University campuses, including the main
campus and local satellite campuses. Based on experience drawn from Contemplation
By Design, practical recommendations for designing contemplative practice spaces and
programs are offered.
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