Bri Bluiett, Mia Lucido, Victoria Mitchell

Project Background

Many college students have experienced some form of violence or trauma throughout their lives. Unity Hall is a counseling and recovery space located on the North Dakota State University campus in Fargo, ND. It’s mission is to provide a safe and supportive environment where students can stay, study, gather, and receive professional help. By offering these resources, Unity Hall strengthens the sense of community on campus and promotes overall student well-being.

Our design solutions will address the need for trauma-informed, inclusive environments that support health, safety, and well-being on university campuses. Because this issue spans physical safety, mental health, cultural belonging, and academic success, we analyzed these relationships and made recommendations that promote both immediate comfort and long-term resilience. The project examines how design influences human interaction, technology use and interdisciplinary collaboration, assessing options based on human needs and behavior with attention to cultural and social factors. Technology is incorporated to improve performance, accessibility, and safety, guided by frameworks such as trauma-informed universal design.

Drawing on fields like psychology, counseling, public health, and sustainability, we have developed a comprehensive solution. Our methodology includes a literature review, best-practice analysis, and user research to understand student needs. This process informs clear project goals and demonstrates the application of current research to the programming and design phases.