In this conversation, JLG Architects experts Kyle Kosior, Todd Medd, and Adam Davidson explore the innovative intersection of sports and healthcare design through their recent collaboration with the Summit League, Sanford Health, and Holiday Inn to provide dedicated mental health spaces for student-athletes.
The team breaks down the creation of the “Zen Zone”—a pilot mental health room designed with trauma-informed and evidence-based principles—to support the “whole athlete” experience during the high-pressure environment of a collegiate championship.
The team behind the project discusses how merging medical and athletic architectural expertise prioritizes cognitive wellness and respite serves as a critical tool for recruiting and retaining talent in the evolving era of NIL and professionalized college sports. During the conversation, surprising parallels emerge between the needs of high-pressure athletic environment with athletes, coaches, and trainers to healthcare spaces, for doctors, nurses, and patients.
The conversation also highlights the expanding need for these supportive ecosystems in youth sports and professional environments, emphasizing how intentional design can help athletes of all ages navigate the modern pressures of competition and social connectivity.
