As of fall 2022 and thanks to donors Paige and Doug Babcock, the first-ever satellite location of the Barnes Center at The Arch Crowley Family MindSpa launched. Prioritizing student health and wellness without sacrificing time in busy schedules or convenience of location, the Day Hall MindSpa is just one step forward within the larger overarching planning journey to enhance the Syracuse University student experience.
Differing versions of a health and wellness focused mindspa have been available on campus throughout the years. However, the fall 2019 opening of the Barnes Center at The Arch also made available the newly constructed Crowley Family MindSpa to the campus community.
The Crowley Family MindSpa is a space on the first floor of the Barnes Center at The Arch offering free guided relaxation techniques in a private, welcoming and accessible environment. The space has three rooms with wind chime machines, massage chairs, art materials, Zen Gardens and other items designed to help one de-stress.
Students, faculty and staff are invited to schedule free Barnes Center at The Arch Crowley Family MindSpa appointments on the Wellness Portal. Please note, appointments for individual rooms and the massage chairs must be made separately. Additional details are available on the Wellness Portal Instructional webpage.
A student enjoys a massage chair at the Day Hall MindSpa.
When planning for increased access to mindfulness resources akin to the Barnes Center at The Arch Crowley Family MindSpa, prioritizing meeting students where they are was taken literally, making residence hall locations the prime target. In fall 2022, the Barnes Center at The Arch alongside campus partners worked together to make history by launching the first satellite MindSpa in Day Hall.
Providing a welcoming and accessible wellness environment, the newly launched Day Hall MindSpa echoes features of the Barnes Center at The Arch Crowley Family MindSpa including meditation resources, Zen gardens, light therapy boxes, massage chairs and more. Residents of Day Hall are invited to request access to this free space from the building’s front desk.
Robert Frahm Jr. ’25, helps operate the Day Hall MindSpa, and highlights its effectiveness of promoting relaxation unique to each student’s needs and goals. “The Day Hall MindSpa can be used in a multitude of ways and helps people relax as they please. The best part are the massage chairs. The chairs help with relaxing and becoming unstressed, especially during midterms and finals.”
With continued generous support from Paige and Doug Babcock, the Barnes Center at The Arch will be implementing additional satellite mindspa locations throughout campus. For more information or to request accommodations, visit the Barnes Center at The Arch website, email the Barnes Center or call 315.443.8000.
Story by Student Experience communications intern Esteban Quiñones ’24, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
