During the 2025-26 Summit League Basketball Championships in Sioux Falls, SD, JLG Architects’ Sports Studio and Healthcare Studio teamed with Holiday Inn City Centre to create a dedicated mental health space for athletes, coaching staff, officials, and support personnel — a place to relax, refocus, and recharge. In 2026, Sanford Health Sioux Falls joined the initiative, further enhancing the experience throughout the five-day tournament.
The Zen Zone, located within the hotel where many athletes and coaches stayed, served as a private respite room designed to help moderate stress during the peak of competition. The team was tasked with transforming a small meeting room into a holistic well-being experience, without altering walls or permanent fixtures. Every therapeutic element was achieved through thoughtful layering of light, sound, texture, and scent. The welcoming environment offered opportunities for relaxation, meditation, and prayer, featuring varied seating options, weighted blankets, specialized lighting, calming music, and stress-relief aromatherapy, among other amenities.
JLG’s Healthcare Studio contributed sensory-sensitive and trauma-informed design principles, while the Sports Studio provided insight into the psychological demands of collegiate athletics. Sanford Health’s clinical partnership ensured the space aligned with current mental health best practices. Together, the team demonstrated a shared commitment to reducing stigma, encouraging self-care, and supporting the complex mental, emotional, and physical health needs of student-athletes.